You can plan the week on Friday, on Sunday or first thing Monday. Pick a time that suits you and that you can come back to regularly. The point of this review is to look at several days together before you fill in each one.
1. Look back at the week that just ended
Go over the tasks you finished, the ones still open and the replies you’re waiting for. An unfinished action doesn’t have to be carried over exactly as it was.
If you’ve postponed “Prepare the presentation” three times, ask yourself what’s missing. It might be a long enough time slot, a key message you haven’t settled on, or information you still need to get. Next week’s plan should take that into account.
Also note what moved forward. An approved draft or a decision that’s been made can change your priorities for the days ahead. The guide on tracking project progress offers a review built around exactly those changes.
2. Put constraints in first, new tasks second
Check your appointments, personal obligations and project deadlines. Spot the days that are already full and the stretches where you can work with fewer interruptions.
If you use a calendar for appointments and Keepio for tasks, look at both during this review. You can then choose dates for your actions with the whole picture in mind.
You don’t need to assign a task to every free minute. Travel, preparation and unexpected requests take up room too.
3. Pick a few outcomes for the week
An outcome tells you what your tasks are meant to achieve. “Send a first version of the portfolio on Friday” gives clearer direction than “Portfolio”.
Choose an amount of work that fits your commitments. A particularly busy week might only have room for one modest outcome. You can also decide to keep a project on hold rather than schedule work you already know will be hard to get done.
Check that the actions you need are defined and that you have the information to get started. If not, your first task may be to ask for what’s missing.
4. Spread the steps out without filling the whole schedule
Here’s a fictional example for someone who wants to send a first version of their portfolio by the end of the week. Appointments live in their usual calendar; tasks can be scheduled in Keepio.
| Day | Constraint to work around | Planned action |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Meeting in the morning. | Pick the three projects to feature in the afternoon. |
| Tuesday | A day of appointments and travel. | Keep the task load light. |
| Wednesday | One block of time available. | Write the description of the first project. |
| Thursday | A commitment late in the day. | Write the other two descriptions if the estimated time allows. |
| Friday | Deadline to send. | Proofread the copy and send the first version. |
This plan covers a first version of the content, not a fully finished website. If the copy needs more work, adjust the scope of the version you share or renegotiate the commitment with the person involved.
5. Decide in advance how you’ll handle a new request
A request can be a good reason to change your priorities. Before adding it, look at its deadline, how important it is and what work it would push aside.
If it has to be handled this week, decide explicitly what will wait. For a shared commitment, let the person involved know if the date changes. Keeping your schedule readable sometimes means removing a task or scaling back a first version.
A quick check-in midweek lets you account for feedback you’ve received and steps that took longer than expected. You can adjust the plan based on the facts you have.
Going from week to day in Keepio
Keepio’s calendar shows your dated tasks and project deadlines. Use it to see what’s coming up. Then go back to the Today view for the day’s tasks.
Pick one specific first action instead of going through the whole weekly list every morning. The guide on planning your day walks through that transition.
Your weekly review checklist
- What moved forward?
- Which tasks need a fresh decision?
- Which constraints are already set?
- Which outcomes are realistic this week?
- Which actions will I take, and when?
- Where is there still some slack?
- What will my first action be on Monday?
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to plan your week?
Friday, Sunday or Monday morning all work: pick a time that suits you and that you can come back to every week. What matters is looking at several days together before you fill in each one.
How long does a weekly review take?
There’s no set length: the review just needs to be simple enough that you’ll actually do it every week. It comes down to looking at what moved forward, the constraints already in place, a few realistic outcomes and your first action for Monday.
How many priorities should you set for the week?
Pick a few outcomes, in an amount that fits your existing commitments. A particularly busy week may only have room for one modest outcome, and you can choose to keep a project on hold rather than schedule work that’s unlikely to get done.
What should you do when an urgent task disrupts your weekly plan?
First look at its deadline, its importance and the work it would push aside. If it has to be handled this week, decide explicitly what will wait, and let the people involved know if a committed date changes.
Try this today: plan a single week around one main outcome and a few steps. On Friday, check what actually fit into the time you had, then adjust the following week.
Explore Keepio’s calendar.
