We’ve all been there–it’s a Monday, you’re still easing into the week ahead, and suddenly you get to your desk and there are 500 things you had forgotten about, things that came up at the last moment, and even more things that just need your attention now. It can be overwhelming and can start you out on the wrong foot for the rest of the week. Today, we’re going to talk about how we can get ahead of that feeling and set ourselves up for a smooth, productive start to your workday.
The name of the game is weekly reviews. This is something that people like David Allen and Michael Hyatt use to get out in front of their upcoming week. For Jill, it starts with a cleanup. Right now, many of us are working from home, and things can get a little messy. Gathering up everything on your desk and putting them in a pile is a good place to start. Now, everything that was on your desk is still accessible, but it isn’t cluttering the place in which you need to work to achieve your tasks.
This is also a great time to go through voicemails, emails, and paper mail. Sometimes we respond to things or take care of tasks during the week, but those communications stay at the top of your inbox or at the forefront of your mail pile. Sifting through these things lets you start fresh next week. Starting with a clean slate is refreshing!
From there, a brain dump is definitely in order. We’ve heard Jill talk about this before, but it’s important to remember the importance of getting your ideas down on paper to avoid the moment your head hits the pillow and a million ideas come flooding into your head. Over a period of time, you’ll find that you’re sleeping better, waking up ready to take on the day, and generally feeling like you have a head start.
As you gear up for the week coming up, writing out your to-do list prevents you from overloading one day or another. As you’re doing this, take a look at the previous week’s to-do list and move anything that needs to be rescheduled. That also means organizing and sorting emails (check out the episode where Jill talks about that!).
While you’re doing this, remember to set up a timer, silence your phone, and see what you can get done with uninterrupted focus. It might take longer at first, but once you establish a system, you’re going to thank yourself at the start of next week.
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