Every Sunday, I spend 15 minutes that determine whether my upcoming week will feel chaotic or controlled.
It’s called my Weekly Debrief, and it’s become a foundational part of my week.
I sit down with my daily journal, a black Leuchtturm with dotted pages, and review the week that just ended. I find writing with a pen more enjoyable and meaningful than using apps or typing notes.
Here’s what I capture:
- Wins from the week
- Challenges I faced
- Key insight I learned
- Priorities for the coming week
- One thing to stop doing
I also rate myself in five key areas that matter most: Vitality, Discipline, Productivity, Devotion, and Demeanor. This isn’t about perfectionism, it’s about honest assessment and course correction.
Then I fill out the small daily calendar on each journal page for the upcoming week. Yes, my full schedule with reminders lives in Google Calendar since my journal isn’t always with me, but there’s something powerful about writing out my week by hand. It forces me to be intentional about what gets my time.
This dedicated 15 minutes allows me to be proactive with my week rather than reactive.
Will unexpected situations still come up? Absolutely. But when I’ve spent time looking over my week, I’m prepared and have the mental bandwidth to redirect when something more pressing needs my attention.
The difference between starting Monday with a plan versus starting Monday hoping for the best is enormous. One approach gives you sovereignty over your schedule; the other makes you a slave to whatever demands the loudest attention.
The goal isn’t a perfect week, it’s an intentional one.
When you know your priorities going in, you can make better decisions about interruptions, opportunities, and the inevitable chaos that comes with family life.
What would change if you spent 15 minutes every week getting intentional about the seven days ahead?