This Weekly Practice Changed My Life (The Weekly Planning Session)

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares how a simple yet transformative habit—weekly planning—has radically improved their productivity and well-being. They walk through a structured process of reflecting on the past week, reviewing goals, planning the week ahead, and tracking finances. The process includes blocking time for personal and professional goals, while also maintaining flexibility to adapt as needed. This habit has brought clarity, focus, and balance into their life, demonstrating that intentional planning can lead to greater success and fulfillment.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker's life was transformed by a simple yet effective weekly planning session, which has been a game changer for over five years.
• 😀 The lack of consistent planning led to missed deadlines and overwhelmed schedules, prompting the need for regular reflection and planning.
• 😀 The weekly planning session is broken into four steps, starting with reviewing the previous week, including both emotional and goal-related reflections.
• 😀 Scheduling the weekly planning session is crucial for consistency, and for the speaker, Sunday evenings became the designated time.
• 😀 Roughing in the calendar on Friday nights helps the speaker plan their week ahead, making it easier to respond to scheduling requests over the weekend.
• 😀 The speaker uses Google Keep to reflect on their week with specific prompts, including how they feel, what excites them, and what's draining them.
• 😀 The process also includes reviewing overarching goals (yearly, quarterly, monthly) and adjusting them as needed based on weekly progress.
• 😀 Time-blocking is essential to prevent other tasks from overwhelming personal goals. The speaker schedules time for work, exercise, and personal development.
• 😀 The planning process involves reviewing finances to stay aligned with financial goals and make necessary adjustments to the budget.
• 😀 Flexibility is key. The speaker adapts the planning process to their needs, adjusting it as life changes, but the core structure remains consistent.
• 😀 The speaker's method offers a balance of structured planning and personal freedom, helping them stay focused while leaving room for rest and spontaneous activities.

Q & A

What is the main concept behind the weekly planning session?

The weekly planning session is a dedicated time each week, typically lasting one hour, to reflect on the previous week, review goals, and plan for the upcoming week. It aims to provide structure and ensure that goals are prioritized and achieved.

Why was the weekly planning session introduced in the first place?

The weekly planning session was introduced to address a lack of consistent planning and follow-through. The speaker had trouble tracking progress toward goals and often missed deadlines due to an overwhelming number of tasks and poor prioritization.

How has the structure of the weekly planning session evolved over time?

Initially, the weekly planning session was integrated with roughing in the calendar. Over time, it evolved to separate the calendar planning (done on Friday) from the actual session (done on Sunday), allowing for better time management and smoother planning.

What are the first steps of the weekly planning session?

The first step involves roughing in the calendar for the next week, typically done on Friday evening. This helps the speaker know their availability for the upcoming week before others contact them, reducing the need for last-minute scheduling.

What does the reflection part of the planning session involve?

The reflection part involves reviewing the previous week through prompts that focus on feelings, exciting moments, drains, ideas, and what can be done to make the upcoming week better. This helps the speaker assess their emotional and goal-related progress.

What are the five prompts used for reflection during the planning session?

The five prompts are: 1) How am I feeling right now? 2) What's exciting right now? 3) What's draining right now? 4) Do I have any exciting or profound ideas? 5) What can I do to make it a good week?

How are goals tracked during the planning session?

The speaker tracks goals by breaking down yearly goals into quarterly, monthly, and weekly goals. Each week, they review their progress and adjust their plans based on what was accomplished and what needs attention.

What is the role of scheduling goals during the planning session?

Scheduling goals is crucial for making sure the speaker has dedicated time to work on them. By blocking time for specific tasks related to goals, they avoid overloading their calendar with unrelated activities and ensure focus on what's most important.

How is personal time and self-care incorporated into the planning session?

Personal time is prioritized by scheduling activities like morning routines, gym sessions, and date nights. The speaker ensures these activities are blocked into their calendar, making time for self-care alongside work commitments.

What is the importance of reviewing finances during the planning session?

Reviewing finances helps the speaker stay connected to their financial goals by tracking expenses and assessing their financial situation. This step ensures that any necessary adjustments are made to align with financial objectives.