Entrenching the Weekly Review

As a longtime fan of David Allen's "Getting Things Done", I've come to recognise the power of the Weekly Review. So much so, that whenever I'm feeling stressed and overwhelmed, it’s usually because I neglected or skimped on my review.

If my focus, effectiveness and peace of mind are so clearly tied to one activity, you’d think it would be easy to make it a priority. But then again, there are many things I know are good for me, will make me happier, healthier and wiser, and yet I struggle to get myself to do them consistently. Habits, it seems are not only hard to break, but can be hard to start (at least consciously).

Sunday is Weekly Review Day for me, and to encourage myself to do it regularly, I have created a few rituals. My wife and I trade off childcare duty on Sunday and so I’m able to duck out to my favorite neighborhood coffeeshop, don my Ipod headphones and zone out to some Baroque Music. I do my Review directly on my Palm. After about an hour, I emerge lighter and more focused. I’m ready and able to enjoy the rest of my Sunday with my family, knowing I’ve increased the chances the coming week will be manageable and free from a sense of overwhelm.

And because I've made it into a ritual I enjoy, I'm more likely to repeat it next week. (And the week after that...)