Hey there! Kathy here.
As a solopreneur, it’s essential to build a week that works for you – one that helps you stay organized, focused, and productive without feeling overwhelmed. We all know how easy it is to get caught up in the hustle and grind, constantly juggling tasks and wearing multiple hats.
What if you could design your week in a way that prioritizes what truly matters – both in your business and your personal life? In this blog post, I’ll share some tips on how to create a weekly schedule that works for you, so you can work smarter, not harder, and achieve the balance you’ve been craving. Let’s dive in!
“Plan your week, align your life. The ideal week is not about filling every hour, but aligning every hour with your priorities.”
– Kathy Schneider
Imagine a week where everything fits – work, play, and rest – all according to your rules. No more feeling like you’re constantly scrambling or sacrificing one area of your life for another. When you build a week that works for you, you can prioritize your business tasks while still leaving space for the things that recharge you. It’s all about designing a schedule that serves both your professional goals and your personal needs, without feeling like you're running on empty.
This Week’s Afformation:
Let’s dive into how to create a schedule that not only supports your business goals but also gives you time to focus on what matters outside of work. By taking a strategic approach, you can map out your week in a way that allows you to be productive and still have room for personal commitments, family, and self-care. With the right structure in place, you’ll be able to work more efficiently, enjoy more free time, and feel confident that you’re staying on track with both your business and life.
Build a Week That Works: Introducing the ‘Ideal Week' Concept
In this video, I introduce you to the concept of the ‘Ideal Week,' a strategic tool to design a week that harmonizes work and life.
*Be sure to watch the video where I guide you through the steps to:
- Customize Your Calendar: Set up a Google Calendar named ‘My IDEAL WEEK,' which serves as a template for both personal and professional planning.
- Non-Negotiable Times: Block times you will never work, ensuring you commit to personal downtime, family activities, and self-care.
- Work Blocks: Designate specific times for peak productivity tasks, recurring tasks, and project work.
- Social and Community Engagement: Schedule times for social media interactions and community building, crucial for business growth.
- Routine Reviews: Regularly update your Ideal Week to adapt to life’s changes and seasonal shifts, ensuring flexibility and responsiveness.
Creating Your ‘Ideal Week': A Roadmap to Balance and Success
Let’s dive into creating your ideal Week. This is about designing a perfect week that balances both work and personal life, with the understanding that flexibility is key. Life will always throw curveballs, but with a solid plan, you can stay on track and make adjustments as needed.
Steps to Build a Week That Works
Set Up Your Template in Google Calendar
First, open Google Calendar and create a new calendar named “My IDEAL WEEK [Q# YEAR].” This will serve as your template for the year.
Begin by blocking off times you will NEVER work. This includes personal commitments like lunch AWAY from your desk, household chores, picking up your kids from school, weekly church activities, and scheduling work-free weekends and evenings if possible! This step ensures you create space for self-care and personal time, helping you maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Define Your Work Blocks
Next, define when you will ALWAYS work. What’s your ideal startup time each day? If mornings are your peak productivity period, block that time for your most important business tasks.
Include a block of time for recurring tasks, whether daily, weekly, or monthly routines – like creating content. For you, this might be YouTube videos, blog posts, or creating and scheduling social media.
Don’t forget to add a Social Block if social media is part of your strategy to grow your business. This designated time keeps your efforts organized and consistent!
Schedule Your Project Blocks and Morning Routine
Next, decide when your Project Blocks will occur. These are dedicated times for pushing forward on big goals or important projects that require deep focus.
You will also need to carve out time for your Morning Routine – this is your time for visioning and goal review. This routine sets the tone for a successful day and helps you stay aligned with your long-term goals, ensuring that you're not just reacting to tasks, but proactively working toward your business vision.
Set Your Evening Routine
Then, what about your Evening Routine? This is your time to wind down effectively, preparing yourself for the next day with intention. Block this time off! By creating a consistent evening routine, you ensure that you’re not only closing your day on a positive note but also setting yourself up for success the following day. This time allows you to reflect, relax, and recharge so you’re ready to tackle tomorrow with focus and energy.
Regularly Update and Adjust Your Ideal Week
One of my recurring tasks on a quarterly basis is setting aside time to update and adjust my Ideal Week. I recommend you do the same! This practice allows you to adapt and make necessary changes as your business and personal life evolve, especially as your seasons of life shift. Sometimes, adjustments may need to happen more frequently or suddenly when unexpected changes occur in your daily routine. By regularly reviewing your schedule, you can stay flexible and ensure your week continues to align with your goals, even as life throws curveballs.
Weekly Action Steps
Now that you’ve set up a structure for your Ideal Week, it’s time to break it down into actionable steps that will keep you on track and moving forward. Consistency is key, and by turning your planned blocks into weekly action steps, you’ll ensure you’re staying productive and focused on your goals.
Firstly, one Action Item for your business:
Next, here's one Action Step for your personal life:
I'd like to encourage you to consider these Weekly Action Steps seriously. They are provided to take the lesson in this post and make it actionable. I'm here to support you on your journey toward peak productivity, helping you work smarter, not harder. With each step, you'll build new habits, refine your workflow, and unlock the full potential of your productivity.
Explore the Everything Page: Your Resource Hub for Productivity and Growth
Ready to turn your business into a well-oiled machine? Visit my Everything Page—your one-stop shop for resources that elevate productivity. You’ll find everything you need to work smarter and boost earnings from free tools to paid options.
Whether you're looking for tech tools, blog posts, links to my shop, or access to my monthly solopreneur membership, it’s all there to support your stress-free business journey. Click the link to explore and transform your workflow!
Closing Thoughts: Create a Week That Works for You
By taking the time to build a week that works for you, you’re setting yourself up for a more productive, balanced, and intentional life. Remember, it’s not about packing every minute with tasks – it’s about creating a schedule that supports both your business goals and your personal needs. With the right structure, you can work smarter, not harder, and make time for what truly matters.
Helpful Resources:
- Year in a Snapshot: Why Solopreneurs Need This Calendar KathySchneider.com/86
