Are you looking to get better organised with your time and your schedule? If so, you’re not alone! Learning how to plan your week like a pro is a skill that will help you get better organised and make more progress on your goals. It also enables you to avoid getting so stressed and overwhelmed.
Because when you’re focused and efficient with your available time, you will get more accomplished. It’s also a great way to ensure you’re achieving a better work-life balance too.
So if you’re looking to nail your working week and your schedule, here are some tips to help you plan your week like a pro!
Schedule time on Sunday to plan your week like a pro
Ideally, you’ll want to set yourself a 30-minute slot to schedule out your week every Sunday. If Sunday doesn’t work for you, set aside the first 30 minutes of your Monday morning to do this, as it will really help you get organised. Look to make an outline of each day, following the steps below. Remember, though; you’re not necessarily looking to achieve a complete time-block breakdown, just a well planned out week!
Review your goals and plans
Start by reviewing your goals and plans. Look at what you want to achieve during the month ahead and over the next 90 days. This will help you ensure you’re not just factoring in routine tasks but also doing what’s needed to achieve your longer-term goals too.
Factor in your appointments
It’s often those little one-off appointments that can scupper the best-laid plans. So make sure you check your calendar for any recurring and upcoming, personal or work-related appointments and write them down, ready to schedule into your week ahead.
Know your needs and wants
You’ll know what needs to be completed during the week ahead. This includes client work, deadline specific tasks and anything urgent. But don’t forget about those things you want to achieve too. What are those tasks you’d like to accomplish to feel satisfied and happy by the end of your week? Make a list of them, too, ready to move on to the next step.
Break it all down
Take a look at what you’ve written down and see if those tasks are as simple as possible. If needed, break them down further and create bullet points for any action steps required for your priorities.
Schedule it all into your calendar
Now you’re ready to schedule it all in. It can help make it easier for you to schedule if you opt for theme days (such as admin, tech etc.) or group tasks together, based on the tools needed to complete them or the type of task (such as graphic creation, scheduling, or written content creation). And don’t forget, if you know when you’re naturally more productive (morning person or night owl), factor that into your scheduling plan too!
Leave space for the unexpected
Factor in some breathing space if you’re looking to effectively manage your time when working for yourself. Do what you can to stick to your schedule, but don’t beat yourself up if things need to change once your week has started. That’s why it’s such a great idea to factor in some breathing space in the form of empty time blocks or ‘free’ sessions. You can use them to switch things around or spend more time on tasks if you run over.
Don’t just plan your week – reflect, reward and celebrate it too
Finally, ensure you’re looking back over your completed week to reflect, reward and celebrate your achievements. This will help keep you motivated and also cement in how great it is to plan your week like a pro!
If you’re ready to outsource some of those tasks on your schedule or would like some support in your business, why not get in touch? You’ll find our contact details here, along with a link to book in for an informal chat about your needs. It’s not always easy doing it alone, but that’s why we’re here – to support you whilst you support your clients! So get in touch and let’s talk.