How I Plan My Week: Tools, Tips, and Habits

I function best when I have a plan. Sometimes that’s just a guide for the day, other times it’s a rigid schedule also known as micro-scheduling. Planning helps me stay on top of tasks and avoid last-minute stress or forgetting something important. But how I plan my week (and further) ensures that I make time for the things I want to do.

I used to plan my week on a Monday morning when I first started the day, but since having a baby that has become a bit more open. But I will always find time in the week to reset and get organised.

Here’s how I plan my week, the tools I use, and some habits that help me feel ready for the week ahead.

My planning ritual

Each week I take around half an hour to make a plan (or review my existing plan) for the week ahead. I usually sit in my office at my computer (because most of my planning is digital) with my phone.

When I settle down I will:

• Review the previous week. Take a look at anything that didn’t get done from the week before, and if so why.

• Check my calendar. I make sure any appointments, social plans etc are included in my planning/ to do list. The last thing I want to do is plan to do loads one day, but realise I have social plans and things not get done.

• Brain dump. I jot down anything that I need to do that week that’s not already captured and allocate a day to do the task.

• Prioritise. I identify the most important things for the week and make sure they’re planned in for early in the week.

How I plan my week: Tools I can’t live without

The main tool I use and ultimately how I plan my week is todoist. It’s a planning app which really changed my life a few years ago when I first started using it. It has everything I need to do added into it and it helps me set daily lists of tasks. But the thing I love most about it is the automation for repeated tasks. I have some things that I do weekly, monthly and yearly, and once set up they will reoccur at whatever frequency you need. I have weekly reminders for blogging related tasks, I have monthly reminders to wash our bedding, and yearly reminders to review prices for insurance policies.

In our household we use Google Calendar and this helps me review any appointments and social activities. These are the types of events that have fixed dates, whereas a lot of the things in my to do list can be moved.

Planning tips that actually work

1. Keep it realistic – I used to cram way too much into my weekly to-do list and then feel disheartened when half of it didn’t get done. Now, I focus on a few key tasks per day. Everything else is a bonus.

2. Theme your days – I loosely batch tasks by type (e.g. I do a whole bunch of blogging admin on one day rather than splitting it across the week). This could include a day for admin, a day for errands, a day for housework etc.  It helps with focus and reduces the mental load of task-switching.

3. Include non-negotiables – Planning isn’t just for work. I schedule in workouts, self-care, social time, and even rest. If it matters, it deserves space on the calendar.

4. Leave buffer time – Life happens. I always leave some white space in my week so I can shift things around without panic if unexpected stuff comes up.

How I plan my week

Planning my week has genuinely helped me feel less overwhelmed. It’s not about having a perfectly productive week every time — it’s about setting myself up for success and not forgetting anything.

If you haven’t tried weekly planning before, start small. Try a Sunday check-in, a to-do list, or even just blocking out one day for focus time. You might be surprised how much calmer and more in control you feel.

What are your favourite planning tools or habits?