Ready to have your most productive week ever?
Then you’re in the right place.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to plan the kind of productive week that most people only dream about in just five steps.
Ready? Let’s dive in.
How do you make your week productive?
A productive week doesn’t just happen.
Proper planning is the key to having a productive week. It helps us see the world as it really is instead of what we think it is. In fact, research shows planning improves productivity.
Now, you may already know that.
But few people actually do it.
That’s why we created the Winning the Week method. Here’s how it works:
- Review last week
- Set goals for this week
- Prioritize your tasks
- Calendarize your to-do list
- Review and adjust accordingly
There’s a right time to plan your week – I’ll tell you when next.
When should you plan your week?
The best options are Friday afternoon or Sunday.
On Friday, you can reflect while the week’s events are still fresh, but also signal your brain to transition to relaxation mode.
Sunday works well, too, since that’s when we tend to start thinking about our upcoming week.
I’ll tell you how to plan for a productive week next.
How to plan a productive week
We’ve been pre-planning our weeks every Sunday for years, and it’s changed everything.
The best part? It works for everyone, from busy moms to business owners.
Here’s what we’ve found works best for a productive week.
1. Make it an event
Let’s be honest.
Pre-planning isn’t always something to look forward to.
You’re reflecting on last week and reliving everything that went right and wrong.
That’s why Demir and I have created a pre-planning ritual.
Every Sunday morning, we head to our favorite coffeeshop and take a few hours to have brunch, discuss the last week, and plan for the upcoming week.
It works because it turns planning a productive week into something that we look forward to.
In fact, when we tried to ditch the brunch, we found ourselves dreading our pre-planning session!
So, find what makes the juice worth the squeeze for you. It might not be brunch! It could be drinks at a great bar or a leisurely stroll.
Whatever it is, it should make taking your weekend time to think about next week worth it.
Hear more about our ritual in this video:
2. Review your week
The first thing you have to do is get a feel for how last week went.
I recommend starting by writing down the things that went right.
It’s the best way to understand how much you actually got done, which we all need (especially if it wasn’t a highly productive week). Also, mentally crossing tasks off will improve your cognitive performance.
Then, write down what didn’t get done.
In just a few minutes, you’ll have a “lesson” from last week to take into the upcoming week.
Think of it as a chance to try new things, bask in your wins, understand your losses, and adjust as needed.
3. Do a priority review
Next, review your priorities and determine what you need to focus on first.
All too often, I see clients either focusing on several priorities at once or choosing the wrong one altogether.
Instead of focusing on all the small tasks that keep piling up, it’s better to prioritize the task with the most leverage.
In other words, the one that will make getting everything else done that much easier.
Demir and I discuss prioritizing with leverage in this video:
4. Do a calendar review
When you look at your calendar, you’re looking for two things: hard-edged and soft commitments.
A hard-edged commitment has to happen. For example, if I don’t show up to a scheduled appointment, I’ll face consequences.
But a soft-edged commitment is something that you have some flexibility with, like your lunch hour.
So review your calendar and:
- Identify any landmines that could flip your calendar on its head.
- Optimize your meetings by canceling, rescheduling, and preparing as needed.
- Make sure you have a good balance between work, social activities, and downtime.
- Schedule your work blocks (which we’ll discuss in a minute).
But don’t just look at the next seven days.
Instead, look at the next ten so nothing catches you by surprise during your next pre-planning session.
5. Do a task triage
Think about your tasks as patients you’re taking care of.
Each one needs your time and skills – but, in reality, there’s only so much you can do with the resources you have.
That’s where a triage system comes in.
When done well, it will help you determine what can and can’t wait.
First, create a to-do list.
It doesn’t need to be effective or efficient yet. It just needs to include EVERYTHING.
That means:
- Breaking down your leveraged weekly priority into smaller subtasks.
- Scanning your projects and thinking about the tasks that need to be completed to move each one forward.
- Rounding up what we call “brain flies,” those things you’ve been meaning to get around to but haven’t yet.
Throw each one of those items onto your to-do list.
Chances are, it’s long and overwhelming to look at. But I don’t want you to panic – being ruthless in your triaging will take care of that.
For each task on your list, ask yourself the following questions:
- Is it related to your number one leveraged priority? If so, keep it.
- Is it time-sensitive? If so, keep it and find another task to sacrifice.
- Can it be terminated, automated, consolidated, or outsourced? If it can, do that now.
- Is it a someday task? If it is, chuck it onto the “someday” list and come back to it in about a month.
- Do you need more clarity to make it actionable? If so, send it back and ask for more information.
📋Check out our live-or-die task triage cheat sheet here.
6. Put it in your calendar
Here’s what really sets you up for a productive week: calendarizing your tasks and optimizing your calendar.
Calendarizing your tasks is a fancy name for setting aside dedicated time for each one.
I swear by Google Calendar for this because it’s great for planning a productive week. You can color-code tasks, schedule meetings with yourself, and even layer calendars.
Once everything has been added to your calendar, it’s time to optimize it.
Don’t be afraid to cancel, rearrange, or consolidate appointments.
Then, make sure you’re striving for a good work-life balance by scheduling time for friends and family. They deserve a place on your calendar, too!
In fact, I recommend doing this first and then adding other tasks around them.
Finally, add some unscheduled time for all that UUW – unplanned, unwanted work throws your productivity for a loop.
Just an hour per day is a great starting place.
Even if nothing lands on your desk, you’ll feel better knowing you have that safety net that will help you stay efficient and keep stress levels at bay.
⏰Read more: Why You Need Unscheduled Time (+How to implement it)
But here’s the thing about calendarizing your tasks.
Even if you have the PERFECT schedule, things can still go wrong.
So take a few minutes to identify those landmines I mentioned earlier – like a client rescheduling a meeting, your boss changing your priority, or your kids getting sick.
That way, you have a plan for everything.
For each scenario, create a one-sentence response plan. For example, “If my boss changes my priority, I will _____.”
What’s next?
That’s it!
Just by taking some time to plan ahead, you can have a more productive week than ever.
If you want to jumpstart your productive week, check out our free Win the Week Worksheet.
It’s helped thousands of people all over the world reclaim their time and have a productive week every week.
Get it here.
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