Get more done in less time, take back control, and empower yourself to hit your deadlines with a proper weekly action plan.

Mistake number one in making a weekly action plan is making a to-do list alone. While it’s a good start to planning, it does not help you manage them. Not all tasks are created equally. If you’re just moving through your to-do list form top to bottom, are you actually checking those tasks that really matter?

That’s why a good weekly action plan includes:

Priorities
Habit tracker
To do list
Day scheduling

Let’s explore each category one by one.

1. Priorities

It’s important to choose your top 3 most important tasks for the week and write them down separately from the main to-do list. This way you know where your focus needs to be and even if you run out of time, you can still end the week on a win. Top 3 priority tasks should be your absolute must do’s for this week, no excuses.

2. Habit tracker

While it’s important to get things done, it’s also important to implement small, healthy habits into your life.

When you write your habits separately, it helps to not miss them in your to-do list. If you’d like to start going for a yoga class for example, you can write down the number of classes you’d like to visit this week. Choose the days and mark them on the tracker, book the class and go.

While visiting a yoga class might not be your top priority task for the week, you don’t want it get lost on your to- do list either. A weekly planner pad can help you tackle your habits appropriately.

3. To do list

Writing your weekly to do list, helps you narrow down your focus and see exactly what needs to be done. When listing these tasks, remember to write down everything you want to get done including personal stuff.

This should help you free up some mental space on trying to remember everything that needs to be done, as well as balancing your work life schedule.

4. Day scheduling

Daily planning is what allows you to manage your day properly in relation to the bigger picture. Imagine how much more effective your daily planning will be if you create each day so that it links back to the bigger picture of your week?

This is your opportunity to spread tasks into your daily time line so you don’t overload or overwhelm yourself. Hit deadlines and maintain that work-life balance.

What’s your recipe to a productive week?

Photo credit @ann_indie