How to Have a Good Week – TPW306

If we want to have a good, productive week, we can take purposeful action to make it happen.

A good week is largely within our control

Lately, our weeks have been very different from what they have been in the past. No two days look the same and things are constantly changing. But it's still possible to plan, be productive, and have a good week, while fitting in some fun and relaxation. I've come up with ten things we can all do to make sure we have the best, most productive week. I'll bet you have some suggestions, too, and I'd love to hear them!

Ten things we can do to ensure a good week

1. Decide you're going to have a good week

So much of our life experience is based on our thoughts and other things going on around us. We can choose to have a good week no matter what our circumstances might be. We can still enjoy our week and cope with whatever life throws at us-with good humor and a positive attitude.

2. Know what a good week means to you

It's impossible to hit a target you can't see. Therefore, you need to have a vision in your mind of what a good week would look like. Spend some time thinking about it. Is it a good week if you accomplish something big? Or if you get several things done on your to-do list? Maybe you've been able to work on a special project. Maybe daily workouts, quiet time, plenty of sleep, time with your loved one. Know yourself and what components made up a good week.

3. Plan Ahead

Spend a little time over the weekend preparing for the week ahead. This is not something that has to take a lot of time, but you should plan for a good week, and prepare your mental and physical space.

A good week can mean we aren't rushing around or playing catch-up, and by planning ahead, we are more likely to have a smooth week. For example,

* If you’re responsible for meals for yourself or others, maybe do some meal planning and any food prep that you can ahead of time.

* If it’s going to be a busy week, put your outfits together ahead of time for yourself, your spouse, or the kids’. Lay out everything from your jewelry to your shoes so you're ready to go in the morning.

* Spend a few minutes checking key areas of your house, such as the kitchen and bathroom, to restock everyday supplies--things like cotton balls, Kleenex, showering supplies, dish soap, etc. Make sure pet food is stocked up, your devices are charged, and your gas tank is full.

By taking the time to check these things, you are taking the weight of them off your mind and you are more likely to have a better week.

4. Be realistic

As you think about the coming week, be honest about how much you can do in a day given the totality of your projects and responsibilities, your health, and your general circumstances.  Sometimes we can be overly ambitious and take on more than we can really handle.

Also, these are strange times and what we can do in the course of a day or week may have been affected. It's fine to push ourselves, but we need to be creative and gives ourselves grace about how much we can accomplish.

Leave white space on your calendar instead of scheduling meetings, calls, and appointments back to back. Give yourself time to take a break and a chance to breathe.

Think about what matters most to you, and clear out anything you can to create the space and energy to enjoy what’s most important. 

5. Guard your mind

Be intentional about the inputs. What comes in our eyes and ears affects our thinking, which creates our emotions. For me, that means limiting the amount of news I watch and who I follow on social media. It’s important to me to know what’s going on in the world, but too much negativity sends my thoughts and emotions to a place I don’t want to...