??Supercharge Your Productivity with This 6-Step Weekly Review Method

Welcome to Career Catalyst, your weekly dose of practical strategies and tips for career advancement – minus the overwhelm.?

In the fast-paced world we live in, it's all too easy to get caught up in a tornado of tasks, appointments, and responsibilities.?

Without a deliberate plan and regular reflection, we default to autopilot living, where days and weeks blend together without a sense of purpose or direction. We've all bee there, right?

The key to success lies in being intentional and creating space for reflection.?

That's why a weekly review is a game-changing habit for anyone seeking continuous improvement, optimization, and growth.?

Here’s a 6-step process for conducting a weekly review (whether on a Friday evening or the weekend) that will get you out of autopilot and back behind the steering wheel.

STEP 1. Design Your Zen Den for Reflection

Before diving into the review, make sure you have a quiet and comfortable space where you can focus without distractions (it’s called ‘stimulus control’). Set aside dedicated time for this practice (schedule it!) to ensure it becomes a consistent habit. Grab a notebook, a pen, and any other tools you may need to jot down your thoughts and ideas.

STEP 2. Review Your Goals + Priorities

Kickstart your weekly review by reconnecting with your long-term goals and priorities.This helps you recalibrate your focus for the upcoming week and ensures that you stay aligned with what truly matters to you.

Questions to consider:?

• Have I made meaningful progress toward my long-term goals this week?
• What achievements, big or small, have I accomplished?
• Are there any specific areas where I feel I have fallen behind or faced challenges?

STEP 3. Harness Wins & Cultivate Growth Opportunities

Pause for a moment and celebrate the wins from the previous week– don’t forget the small ones (known as ‘minor milestones’)! Equally important is to recognize any mistakes or setbacks faced, learn from the experience and to adjust your approach moving forward.

Questions to consider:?

• What specific wins or successes did I experience this week?
• Were there any mistakes or setbacks I encountered & what did I learn?
• How can I adjust my strategies or actions moving forward to avoid similar mistakes?

STEP 4. Analyze Your Productivity?

Evaluate how effectively you managed your time. Identify patterns or habits that hindered your productivity and brainstorm ways to overcome them.?

Questions to consider:??

• How effectively did I manage my time and energy this week?
• Did I prioritize the most important tasks and activities, and are there any time-wasting activities that I should eliminate or delegate?
• What can I implement to improve my productivity?

STEP 5. Review Your Schedule & Make Adjustments

Examine your calendar and commitments for the upcoming week. Use this opportunity to declutter your schedule and make necessary adjustments. Prioritize your most important tasks and allocate dedicated time for working on your goals.?

Questions to consider:?

• Are there any conflicts or overloaded days in my upcoming schedule?
• Are there any commitments or tasks that I need to remove or reschedule?
• Do I have enough dedicated time for important strategic activities aligned with my goals?

STEP 6. Set Laser-Focused Weekly Objectives

Based on your reflections and adjustments, set clear objectives for the upcoming week. Writing these down increases commitment and accountability, making it more likely that you'll follow through (a 2020 study found that writing down goals made participants 20% more likely to achieve them; Oscarsson et al., 2020). You can even add some color with highlighters or markers to make your objectives look a little more fun – this is my favourite part of my weekly review. :)

Questions to consider:?

• Based on my reflections, what specific objectives or goals will I set for the upcoming week?
• How can I break down those objectives into actionable tasks?
• When will I start and by when will I finish?

One last tip: Make it a habit to regularly ask yourself, "What am I grateful for?" Practicing gratitude has been scientifically proven to enhance happiness and foster a sense of hope. When the daily grind becomes overwhelming, this can go a long way.

Adding a weekly review into your routine is a simple adjustment that can add huge value to your life (AND save you time in the long-run). It's a powerful practice that breaks you free from the monotony of autopilot living and sets the stage for greater success (and happiness) in all areas of your life.

Do you have a regular practice of reviewing your week? If you do, how has it impacted your life and productivity? ??

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If you enjoyed this article, you might find value in my LinkedIn Learning Course:?Nano Tips to Boost Productivity. I share 10 simple yet proven micro tips?to help you combat procrastination and get more done in less time. You can access the videos for FREE using?this link.?Enjoy!