A Powerful Routine to Open and Close the Week
One of the ways I help clients is to create meaningful routines. Whether you do something daily, weekly, or monthly, the idea of setting aside time for the important things leads to greater satisfaction and productivity. If you are curious about the positive impact a new routine could have on your leadership, I recommend you incorporate the practice of opening and closing your week. Here’s how it works:
Every Monday morning, block your calendar for one hour to begin the week. Use that time to:
Revisit the checklist you created on Friday afternoon (more on that in a minute). Ensure the priorities remain the priorities and make any necessary changes.
Block time on your calendar during the coming week to complete the above items. An additional benefit of doing this is learning how much time a given task takes you. We often underestimate the time we need.
Journal your response to the following question: What are three specific ways I want to confidently lead my team this week? Change the question monthly. Another one I love: Who are three direct reports I want to spend time with this week?
Every Friday afternoon, block your calendar for one hour to close the week. Use that time to:
Assess this week’s checklist and create a checklist for the following week. What can you celebrate completing this week? What needs to be carried over? What new items start next week?
Identify tasks for the weekend and schedule specific time to work on them. This happens sometimes, and the best way to maximize your time is to plan ahead. Create opportunity for you to enjoy your weekend as well as get the work done.
Journal three things that went particularly well this week and three things you’d like to do differently in the future. You are your own greatest teacher. Reading these entries after a few months of journaling will provide you with clarity on strengths and opportunities for improvement.
This routine gives you a moment to settle into the workweek on Monday and reflect on your progress on Friday. It brings a positive energy into the week ahead, and it allows you to greet the weekend with a greater sense of self-awareness and accomplishment.
Dr. Katie Stone is the founder of Together Evolving. Email Katie at katie.stone@togetherevolving.com to learn more about the transformational impact coaching has on you and your leadership.