How do I plan my week in 15 minutes?

The 15-minute routine

1. Brain dump (3 minutes). Write every task, errand, worry and idea that is on your mind. Do not sort yet. Messy is fine.
2. Look back (2 minutes). What carried over from last week? What happened that you did not plan for?
3. Check what is fixed (2 minutes). Write down appointments, shifts, school pickups and deadlines first, so you can see how much room you really have.
4. Pick your top three (3 minutes). Choose the three things that would make this week feel like a win. Planning guides often say to choose priorities before you assign tasks to specific times, so your time goes to what matters first.
5. Write only what fits (4 minutes). Pull tasks from your dump into a short list for the week. The rest can wait. Leaving things off is part of the plan.
6. Choose your first move (1 minute). Decide what you will do first on Monday, so you do not start the week wondering where to begin.

The end-of-week check-in

Some planning guides suggest a short look back at the end of the week: what worked, what did not, and whether you finished your key goals. A few minutes is enough. Pick one change for next week, not ten.

Common stumbles

• Too many priorities. If everything is a top priority, nothing is. Stay at three.
• Planning every minute. Leave space for things that go wrong.
• Skipping the review. Without a look back, you repeat the same week.

If you want pages to write on

This is an undated weekly planner with a brain dump page, a weekly plan and an end-of-week check-in. You print it again each week.

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