6 Ways to Create a Weekly Schedule That Works

One way to keep on top of your work is by planning in advance and creating a weekly schedule. Start by planning how you want your week to look by scheduling your plans on the Friday before you leave work for the weekend. Write down deadlines and tasks that are most important to you and need to be completed first. Plan your time to focus on these projects first and work on smaller tasks in between, on your breaks, or after. Making schedules and setting priorities you can stick to is a helpful tool to successfully complete your work on time. If you need help figuring out where to start, follow this weekly template guide from Vertex 42!

Instead of rushing to finish task after task, focus on one project at a time. Create a weekly task by giving your undivided attention to one important task at a time. The quality of the work you put into each of those tasks will have a more satisfying outcome than if you just rushed to finish them. By using your time to really focus, the results of your work will have greater rewards and make you feel better about your time spent on them. Don’t forget to reward yourself with a relaxing break, walk, or treat after you complete your assignments!

It can be hard to say no to your kids who are begging for attention mid-afternoon. Or look your dog in the eye knowing you can't play fetch with them right away. The fear of letting other people down can be overwhelming but treating work at home the same way you would in the office is key to managing your weekly workload. By saying no to non-work-related distractions throughout the day, you'll find that you’re more focused at work and get tasks done in a quicker and more efficient manner. This will guarantee a more productive week for you by being able to focus on your tasks! If you're currently working remotely, check out our Work from Home Tips and Ideas blog for more information on how to stay focused and limit distractions. 

When you set aside time to work on tasks, it is important to also set aside your phone. What we think are little distractions can take away from the time you anticipated to use for work. This can cause you to fall behind on tasks and not complete assignments you expected to have done. Shut off the phone so you can get in your zone! According to fitibit, staying away from your phone while working can reduce eyestrain, prevent headaches, and improve your sleep schedule! Pay attention to how much time you spend on your phone or watching TV throughout the work day. If it doesn't help you check a task off your list, it's not a beneficial way to spend your time. Your health is important, check out our blog, 4 Ways to Reclaim your Mental and Physical Space, to help you ditch that screen and those other pesky distractions. 

Start by setting goals for yourself. Ask yourself: what are projects you know need to be done first? What are things you enjoy working on in between? Then give yourself deadlines. Your job already assigns you deadlines, so give yourself a different deadline that allows you time to proof your work to your satisfaction. Give yourself time on Monday mornings to really think about what is important. Form a schedule that will help you to stick to the deadlines you set. Finally, set reminders for yourself to prompt you to work on the projects you want to complete for the week.

It can be hard to tell if you’re succeeding at planning when you feel like you’re constantly drowning in work. It’s easy to lose track of time and set aside breaks for yourself. It’s important to take a breath and reward yourself for your accomplishments. Making a daily schedule to check off assignments as you go is a good way of keeping track of your assignments and accomplishments. Make sure to track your progress so you can visually see the goals you’ve set and have successfully completed! Once you’ve completed those goals, don’t be afraid to reward yourself with something you enjoy for yourself!