Today I want to share the productivity secret that has changed my biz! I created this tool over 7 months ago and I have used it every single week since then to keep me on track. And if I’m being totally honest, just to help me get $h!t done when I get a little ADD!
Back in the summer of ’17 I was finding I would get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of “stuff” I had to get done during the week that sometimes I just wouldn’t do any of it. This would inevitably propel me into a shame spiral which only hindered my productivity more. (Come on, I know you feel me on that! #theentrepreneurstruggleisreal) – So I decided I needed to do something about it and I created this tool to help me get the most out of my weeks.
So what did I create?
I built a weekly planning template that shows me my entire week at a glance. It allows me to set productivity goals and organize my to-do’s in a way that makes sense to ME. Every week on Friday (or over the weekend) I print that sucker out, slap it in my binder and plan the week to come. It’s probably my past as a teacher coming back to haunt me, but I have to say that doing my schedule like this is one of those little things that brings me joy!
Just look at the cheesy ass grin on my face:
Why do I love it?
-
- Because I can see everything I have to do at once. Seeing my week at a glance has been the most convenient way for me to accomplish my weekly goals. If I’m dicking around too much on Tuesday afternoon I can quickly see that the rest of the week is full. It provides just the encouragement I need to buckle down and get to work. I hate not accomplishing everything that I planned to. It makes me feel like I am behind the eight-ball before I’ve even started. You can file that feeling under “things I’m all set with.”
- It’s color coded and pretty. ‘Nuff said.
- It’s easy to edit and personalize based on what you need:
I love me a day planner but I hate that if I want to utilize block scheduling and/or batch my tasks I have to create my own boxes in my planner for each day. For example, if one week I won’t be working on a certain day or I want to switch around the blocks it’s super easy to change with this template. And if I don’t want to change it, all I have to do is print it out instead of creating those boxes every day/week. - It’s got a journal-y aspect to it:
On the back side of the template it allows you to prioritize your weekly and daily goals as well as organize them according to the different facets of your business (i.e. social media, client work, housekeeping tasks, etc.). It also asks you to reflect on whether you met those goals and identify one thing you’re celebrating from that week to help keep that vibe high. I like being able to reflect on what worked and what didn’t, this tool allows me to do that quickly and easily. - It reminds me to prioritize self-care:
Clearly I’m one of those psychos that loves crossing things off my to-do list. But I also need to make sure I’m scheduling time to do things I need for me. If it’s on there, I’m basically compelled to do it. For me this is making sure I’ve done my morning routine before anything else.
Every morning before I sit at my desk I make sure to work out (yoga, always), meditate (using headspace), journal, read whatever book I’m working through, and visit my money & career stories.
I love feeling like I’ve already accomplished something before my “work day” has even begun!
Ok, so do you want this template already?
All you have to do is click the button below and enter your name and email on the next screen. Once you do that check your inbox. I did it this way so that have access to these tools and re-download if you forget to save it. In your email you’ll be receiving the template AND a step-by-step video tutorial on how I use and edit it–just in case you’re not that tech savvy.
So there’s a caveat to this tool…
You may download it and find yourself saying, “This is the biggest crock of crap ever. This doesn’t help me! I can’t believe I just wasted 10 seconds of my life”. And fine, sure, maybe you did BUT:
a.) it was free
b.) if there are parts of it that resonate then just use those and delete the stuff that doesn’t–that’s the beauty of Microsoft Word!
c.) you may be emailing saying something more along the lines of this (which arrived in my inbox just the other day): “Thank you sincerely for sharing your weekly schedule. When I opened it, it made so much sense to me and lifted so much of the overwhelm I had!”
So if only one person benefits from this as much as I did then I’m a happy girl! I’m all about sharing the wealth and the things that have worked for me. So if it helps you too that’s just a bonus. I’d love to hear your thoughts so be sure to hit me up on social. Let me know if you’re using this template and how it’s helped you smash your goals!
Thanks for reading,
