Your to-do list just keeps growing, no matter how much you work. There’s simply not enough time in the day to get everything done. You’re constantly feeling overwhelmed and you just can’t keep going on this way, you’ve got nothing left to give.
Sound familiar?
I’m here to tell you to stop and breathe. Things can be different.
But nothing is going to change if you don’t change. The problem is most of the time, when we are overwhelmed, we don’t even know what needs to change.
That’s why we need to step back, away from the chaos and decide:
What actually needs to get done?
When do I want to do it?
What would my ideal week look like?
In this blog I will share with you how to make time work FOR you and not AGAINST you.
And it starts with something commonly known as a Default Diary.
A default diary is essentially a pre-planned schedule that allocates specific time blocks for different aspects of your business and life.
It removes decision fatigue and creates a sense of predictability, allowing you to be more productive and intentional with your time.
Without a structured plan, it’s easy to fall into the trap of spending hours answering emails, scrolling social media, or jumping from one task to another without real progress. A default diary ensures that each area of your business gets dedicated attention.
It’s basically a timetable – think back to your secondary school timetable telling you what subjects to do when – this is EXACTLY what you need in your business.
I prefer the term ideal week as sometimes the week will have to flex and change due to other priorities and that’s ok. Calling it a default diary can also create negative feelings for some – think defaulting on your mortgage or default setting. I will now use the term “ideal week” going forwards in this blog but you can choose which term you prefer.
Before you create your ideal week, follow these steps to ensure you have all the aspects covered:
- Priorities
Start by listing the key areas of your business and life that require your consistent attention. This could include client work, marketing, admin tasks, financial planning, personal development, and self-care..
- Time blocks
Next, allocate blocks of time in your week for each category. Be realistic about how long each task will take, and build in buffer time to avoid feeling rushed.
- Set specific hours for client work.
- Dedicate time to marketing and sales activities like content creation and lead generation.
- Set aside time for admin and finance tasks such as emails and bookkeeping.
- Allow time for personal development through learning or attending workshops.
- Schedule time for rest and self-care, whether that’s exercise, meditation, or relaxation.
- Make it flexible
Your ideal week should be a guide, not a rigid set of rules. Some days will require adjustments, but having a structure in place makes it easier to get back on track.
The last step is to use your ideal week and follow it. Think of this as version 1 as it may require tweaks and adjustments to make it truly work for you. For me, I have an ideal month and four ideal weeks within a month. My weeks are not the same from week to week however Week One of the month is the same each month.
The key to success is consistency.
By following your ideal week MOST of the time, you’ll see significant improvements in productivity and work-life balance. Of course if something doesn’t work, you have the power to change it but you won’t know if you don’t start.
You DO have enough time.
One of the biggest obstacles to effective time management is the belief that there isn’t enough time.
When you intentionally plan your time, you stop being reactive and start being proactive. You waste less time trying to decide what to do as it has already been decided – you have more time.
If you’ve been telling yourself that there’s not enough time, it’s time to give having an ideal week a go. Your future self will thank you.
Until next time,
Best wishes
Philippa x