10 Best Steps To Plan Your Week

This post was most recently updated on January 25th, 2023

[A collaboration post – all thoughts are my own.]

How do you usually plan your week?

My day off is Sunday, which is also the day I plan my week. At the start of 2020, when I start working from home and launching my blog, I make this a habit. I needed a balance between working two jobs as a content writer and a translator, and I couldn’t achieve it without planning my daily to-do list.

Making weekly plans could help if you find yourself wondering where the time goes every week. You can stay on track with your goals and find time for the things that matter in your life by making a weekly plan. In this post, I’ll demonstrate how to consider both your current accomplishments and your long-term goals. Then, we’ll go over how to create specific, achievable goals for each day to help you cross things off your to-do list.

Set aside 30 minutes each week to create a plan

Choose the day and hour of the week that you will use for planning. For me, Sunday evening is a fantastic time of the week since you can reflect on your accomplishments from the previous week and look forward to the following week.

Pick a time and day that work for you to plan your week. If you work Monday through Friday, schedule some time on a day off to plan your week. If you like to write things down, use a physical planner. You might remember things more clearly if you really write them down. Consider using a monthly setup for long-term planning and goal setting, a weekly setup for quick access to the full week, or a daily setup for more thorough daily work lists.

Note any appointments or fixed responsibilities that you have

Make a list of all of your appointments and responsibilities for the week before you start preparing your personal goals. These could include meetings, responsibilities at work, and classes in school. This will help you determine how much time you will actually have for your other weekly goals and responsibilities.

For instance, you might have a lunch date with a friend and a weekly doctor’s visit. You won’t have as much time to accomplish things at night as you typically would because this already takes up two evenings.

Schedule any other responsibilities that you need to take care of

This can involve tasks such as going to the store, performing duties, and finishing projects with deadlines. When I have translation projects, I schedule a time during the week that I can use to finish up the task. You need to put the most important activities first on your schedule. Make a list of everything you have to accomplish and then prioritize it. In your schedule, always remember to make room for them.

Check-in on your weekly plan every morning

Set aside 5 to 10 minutes to check your schedule for any important tasks that need to be completed. By doing so, you may organize your day and set priorities. You’ll be more likely to stay on track if you set aside some time in the morning to plan rather than starting your day with distractions and small errands.

Create weekly goals to work toward your long-term plans

You can check in with yourself on long-term goals during your weekly planning session. To improve your long-term goals, think about what you can achieve this next week. For instance, if you set a goal for yourself this year to go to graduate school, take some time to consider the steps you’ve taken and those you still need to take. You can choose to create an overview for your application essay this week and begin writing it the following week.

Build in time for breaks and leisure

Plan some time for yourself to unwind if you want to avoid burnout. Schedule some breaks when you are creating your weekly plan if you have problems finding time to take them. For instance, attempt to schedule time once a week for your favorite hobby or interest. Make time for the pursuits that bring you personal happiness.

Create a manageable checklist every day

Be realistic about how much you can get done in a day. You’ll lose motivation if you set too many goals and don’t complete them all. Maintain a daily schedule of multiple little tasks and one major one. I might set a target to spend three hours translating stories if I have to complete four short chapters a day. Things like answering emails and returning phone calls are examples of smaller tasks.

Give yourself actionable tasks to complete

Write down specific actions you can perform, such as “reply to email from,” “buy new pens,” and “take out the garbage,” rather than generic duties like “clean the kitchen.” Your ability to predict how much time a task will require and when it can be completed will improve the more specific your assignments are.

Avoid overscheduling to prevent stress

Too many tasks on your to-do list will cause you stress if you get behind. Spend enough time getting to and from appointments, switching between tasks, and taking breaks.

Reflect on your plan at the end of the week

Look back at what you completed and what you didn’t get done during your weekly planning session. Before including new tasks, add everything that is still outstanding to the list for the following week.

So, how do you plan your week? Do you have any steps you want to add here? Let me know your ways below.