Take back your time with the ultimate 10-step guide to planning your week! Discover how to prioritise, stay organised, and embrace self-care. #TimeManagement #PlanningTips #WeeklyPlan #planner #Productivity

Take Back Your Time: The Ultimate 10-Step Guide to Planning Your Week with Ease

February 10, 2025•6 min read

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PLANNING YOUR WEEK

If you're tired of feeling like you're constantly running on a hamster wheel, getting nowhere fast. Then, you're in luck! Because today I'm sharing my top 12 tips to help you take back control of your week.

1. Set Your Priorities Straight

First things first, let's talk about priorities. What needs to be done, and what can wait? Take a few minutes to identify the key tasks that need your attention, whether it's work-related, family-related, or personal. Then, use a priority matrix (like the one below) to categorise those tasks by urgency and importance.

This will help you focus on what needs immediate attention and what can be tackled later.

2. Get Your Schedule in Check

Next, it's time to create a master schedule. Grab your planner and map out your week. I love using a weekly view layout to do this as it's easier to get an overview of your week.

A Weekly Overview page and A5 Weekly Vertical pages inside our monthly stationery club.

Include everything from work commitments to kids' activities, appointments, and don't forget personal time! Then, use block scheduling to dedicate specific times of the day to different activities, like work, family time, and self-care.

3. Meal Planning Made Easy

Meal planning is a game-changer for busy women. Not only does it save time, but it also reduces the stress of daily meal decisions. Take some time to plan your meals for the week, and consider batch cooking or preparing ingredients in advance to make meal prep a breeze.

A Weekly Menu planner inside our monthly stationery club.

I've created four meal plans four each season, and then I just re-use them. That way, I've done the job once and I don't have to think about what to make each week! Yes, there's a bit of time involved to create what's essentially twelve weeks of meal plans. But like I said, I've done it and now I don't have to do it again. The only thing I need to do each week is add the groceries needed for the week to my shopping!

4. Delegate Tasks and Share the Load

You don't have to do it all alone. Involve your family in household chores and share responsibilities with your partner if you can. And, if you're feeling overwhelmed, don't be afraid to delegate tasks like grocery shopping, cleaning, errands or even childcare.

My mother in law used to do a "child swap" with a friend. And it meant that one day a week she was child free whilst her friend had all the children, and another day in the week, she had extra kids come over for a play date! For the kids and the parents, I say that's a win-win!

5. Set Realistic Goals and Avoid Overcommitting

Be realistic about what you can achieve in a week, and avoid overcommitting. Remember, it's okay to say no to things that don't feel right or will take away time from your own goals and priorities.

It's also a good idea to leave some flexibility in your schedule for unexpected events or changes. Life happens at unexpected times!

A Goal Planner page inside our monthly stationery club.

6. Incorporate Self-Care into Your Routine

Taking care of yourself is essential, my dear! Make time for your physical and emotional health. Reading, movement or simply relaxing can refresh you and keep you on your A-game. Mindfulness practices or relaxation techniques go a long way in helping you to manage stress. So, if you're feeling a little tense around the shoulders, it's probably time you took a little break and did something that filled your soul!

7. Technology: Your New BFF

There are so many amazing machines, apps and tools out there, so take advantage of technology! Use them to manage your tasks, set reminders, and even cook your meals!

Here are just a few different kinds of machines and tech that you can delegate to or use to help you get more done in less time:

Robot vacuum
Dishwasher
Slow cooker/Instant Pot
Google Calendar/iCal/Notion (for managing recurring tasks)
Notion (for organising multiple tasks and projects)
Alexa (for reading books to you!)

Just remember to set boundaries on screen time for both yourself and your kids, to ensure quality family time.

8. Review, Reflect, and Celebrate

At the end of the week, take some time to review what worked and what didn't. Celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem. This will help you refine your plan for the following week and make adjustments as needed.

A Weekly Review page inside our monthly stationery club.

9. Stay Organised and Decluttered

Keeping your living and working spaces organised will massively help to reduce stress as well as save time. Use a family chore chart to keep everyone on the same page. Everyone in the house should have something to do that helps keep the home a lovely place to be.

Create a recurring task to spend 10 minutes decluttering a small area somewhere in your home. Ten minutes of decluttering once or twice a week adds up and before you know it, your home will look and feel lighter and be easier to clean and maintain.

A Weekly Chores page inside our monthly stationery club.

10. Involve Your Kids in the Planning Process

Get your kids involved in planning their own activities and responsibilities, teaching them valuable time management skills and responsibilities.

A selection of kids items inside our monthly stationery club.

In my home, we've done various methods from giving them credits, money or even screen time allowance when they complete certain jobs. Credits could be exchanged for cash or items.

It's not quite the same as bribing because the jobs weren't necessary but were extra tasks they could do to earn a reward if they wanted some extra cash or screen time. Most of the time in our home, necessary jobs didn't receive a reward, as they're part of living. But some times we did reward the necessary jobs - mostly during times when I had a lot on my plate (like during a busy work week) and I really needed the extra help!

Try out different methods with your family and see what works. You may even find one form of reward works more for one child than another. Our teen, for example, is more motivated by cash than credits or screen time allowance!

Bonus Point: Be Kind to Yourself!

Remember, it's okay if not everything goes according to plan. Embrace imperfection, and don't be too hard on yourself when things don't go as planned. You're doing your best, and that's something to be proud of.

There you have it, my lovely! With these essential tips, you'll be well on your way to planning your week like a pro. Remember to be kind to yourself, stay flexible, and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Happy planning!