5 tasks for a weekly reset
I admit, I get the Sunday-scaries every now and again. That feeling of dread that the weekend is coming to a close too quickly. I usually try to savor every moment of the weekend with time outside, with the pups and of course BFM (Boyfriend Mike).
Of course, no matter how well I fill my weekend, Monday always rolls back around.
How can we make the start of a new week less scary? With a weekly reset.
Ending each week with a quick reset gives you a chance to reassess your goals and take stock of what you accomplished that week. Here are 5 tasks to reset at the end of the week:
1 ➜ Archive old emails + clear your inbox
This is my absolute favorite email hack. Seriously—archive your emails! Emails get out of hand fast and it’s very easy to spend the first several hours of your Monday morning in your inbox. This is in no way the best use of your time. Save your inbox deep clean for Fridays. Trust me. Here’s how:
Delete (most) marketing emails
You don’t have to read every email that comes through. You just don’t! Start by quickly deleting all promotional and marketing emails that you’re not interested in. (Better yet, take a moment to unsubscribe if you’re really done deleting emails from the same company every day—I’m looking at you Old Navy!).
If there are workshops and webinars you want to sign up for, keep your wallet handy so you can sign up then and there.
Snooze the emails you want to reply to
If you use Gmail, click on the clock or snooze button and select the time you want to see the email. Let’s say it’s an email from a potential volunteer. You know your schedule is filled to the brim on Monday, but you have a good two hours free on Tuesday. Why not snooze the email until the next time you plan to be in your inbox?
Triage your inbox on a regular basis to stop constantly circling back to it (when you don’t really have the time) and getting overloaded.
2 ➜ Clear your cookies and cache on your computer
My computer has been ridiculously slow and so I tried clearing the cookies and cache to see if it would help. And it did. My computer is working so much faster.
Instructions vary depending on the browser you use, so pick your poison below:
But, a quick word to the wise, clearing your cookies and cache will wipe out any passwords and usernames, so make sure you have those saved. (Try a password organizer like LastPass to save time and headspace).
3 ➜ Tidy up your workspace
I’m not sure how it happened, but it was barely 10am and I had acquired 2 mugs, a glass and my big ol’ 40oz Stanley mug all around my desk. We all know this — you work better with a clean workspace. Do any of us clean our workspace as often as we should? Probably not.
So, real quick, take 5 minutes. Stack papers, throw away trash, put away pens, clear dishes — get fancy and wipe it down with cleaning spray. Cleaning doesn’t sound fun, but it’s a great way to close up your work week and welcome the weekend.
4 ➜ Plan for the week ahead
Planning for your next week does not need to be an involved process. Give yourself a few minutes to look at your meetings for Monday and the next week. Do you need to create or gather any prep materials? Make a note to yourself to check off those tasks prior to the meeting.
Take a moment to think about the big tasks that have been occupying your mind and write them down in your project management system, post-it notes or planner. Pick a time to focus on at least one big task next week.
5 ➜ Show yourself some love
What is it that you need to show up as your best self next week? So often, when I’m trying to “relax,” it means watching movies and baking. But for months, what was really bugging me was how all of our sheets and towels were in a bunch of different closets all over the place. I took a few hours one morning and organized them and I was happy as a clam.
Folding sheets does not need to be your self-care, but what can you do to fill yourself up?
Knock out a quick project
Find some space to think and journal or draw
Organize a drawer
Clean out the fridge
Go take a long walk in the woods with your family
How will you reset this week?
1 ➜ Archive old emails + clear your inbox
2 ➜ Clear your cookies and cache on your computer
3 ➜ Tidy up your workspace
4 ➜ Plan for the week ahead
5 ➜ Show yourself some love
Is there anything else that you do at the end of your week or beginning of your week to reset? Say hello @smallshopstrategies and let me know, I'd love to hear your favorite reset.
