Fine-Tuning Your Engine: The Weekly Review
A car needs regular maintenance to run well. Your productivity system is no different. The weekly review is your 30-minute tune-up. It’s a non-negotiable block of time, perhaps on a Friday afternoon, to look back, assess what worked, and plan for the week ahead. This practice turns you from a passive participant in your schedule to an active architect of your time.
Your weekly review has three simple parts:
1. Reflect on the Past Week
Look at your calendar from the week that’s ending. Don’t judge, just observe. Ask yourself a few questions:
Where did I successfully build and use momentum? Identify the moments where you felt in flow, moving effortlessly from one task to the next. What conditions created that state?
Where did my momentum break down? Pinpoint the exact moments of friction. Was it an unexpected meeting? A task that was much harder than anticipated? A day with no breaks?
How was my energy? Note the days or times you felt most energized and most drained. Does your schedule align with your natural energy rhythms? Poor sleep can severely impact cognitive function, so ensuring you protect your rest is critical. For more information on the importance of sleep, resources like the Sleep Foundation are invaluable.
2. Track Key Metrics
You don’t need a complex spreadsheet, just a few simple data points to track over time. This data will reveal patterns you might otherwise miss.
Deep Work Count: How many deep work blocks (e.g., 90-minute sessions) did you complete? This is your primary measure of high-value output.
Rollover Rate: How many priority tasks did you have to move to the next day? A high rollover rate might mean you’re being too optimistic in your daily planning or that you’re not protecting your focus blocks well enough.
Energy Score: On a simple scale of 1 to 5, how would you rate your average energy level for the week? If this number is consistently low, it’s a sign you need to schedule more breaks, protect your sleep, or re-evaluate your workload.
3. Plan the Coming Week
With these reflections in mind, open your calendar for next week. Start by blocking out your non-negotiables: personal time, workouts, appointments, and breaks. Then, look at your major projects and goals. Break them down into smaller tasks and schedule them into deep work blocks. Place these high-focus blocks during your peak energy times. Schedule your shallow work and meeting blocks around them. You are now setting up your future self for a week of sustained momentum and productivity.
