I’m rebuilding my week round one rule: Fridays are sacred.
I’m a Kind B woman who loves a little bit of construction with out feeling confined by it, so designing a weekly rhythm that really works has been… a course of.
Seems, the key to taking Fridays off is redesigning Monday by way of Thursday.
I’ve had a unfastened construction to my enterprise for awhile, with solely taking conferences on Tuesday and Thursday, however this degree of construction I’m engaged on creating this yr? It’s new territory!
It’s already required consumer conversations and boundary setting (like, “hey, are you able to ship me this earlier within the week so I can get it to you earlier than Friday?”). It’s required me to get all the things finished earlier. It’s requiring me to proceed tweaking this schedule till it feels proper.
As a result of I’m decided to be extra productive than ever, whereas additionally holding Fridays sacred. Which, plot twist, can completely make you extra productive.
So, when you’ve been desirous to take Fridays off in your individual enterprise or are searching for inspiration on how one can construction your work days, right here’s what works for me!
The Basis: Each Morning Begins with a Inventive Block.
Earlier than I get into the particular days, right here’s what issues most: each weekday begins with a morning artistic block from 7-9am.
Early hours. Protected. Non-client time.
That is the place I write and description. Draft content material and concepts. Develop the long-term considering that really strikes my enterprise ahead. No enhancing. No scheduling. No inbox. No checking my cellphone.
All the things else builds from right here. If I skip this, the entire week feels reactive as an alternative of intentional. And after I’m reactive, I’m not doing my finest work, I’m simply responding to what I see on social media or what’s new in my inbox.
Sunday: Prep Day
Pre-decisions solely. I resolve what issues so the week doesn’t require as many choices.
On Sundays, I:
→ Select weekly content material matters
→ Map priorities
→ Construct the grasp to-do record
→ Plan exercises and life logistics
→ Determine on meals (Thistle for lunches, which removes an enormous choice burden)
Sunday is about eradicating friction earlier than the week even begins. After I know what I’m doing and why, I don’t waste power on choice fatigue. The entire vibe: calm, intentional, setting myself as much as win.
Monday: CEO Day
Monday’s job is to scale the enterprise and assume massive image. That is the operational spine of my week — the stuff that has to get finished however doesn’t want artistic genius.
On Mondays, I sort out:
→ Inbox and consumer responses
→ Admin and life duties
→ CRM updates
→ Finance test
→ Prepping social posts
→ Reviewing programs
→ Studying new expertise
The entire vibe: strategic, gradual, no stress to be good.
Right here’s what’s necessary about Monday: I depart loads of room for it to be a slower day. I don’t pack it. I don’t rush. As a result of if Monday feels overwhelming, I get Sunday scaries — and that defeats the complete objective of designing a life I really need to reside.
Tuesday: Calls + Outward Momentum
This can be a context-switching day on objective. I let all of the extroverted, high-energy, people-facing work reside right here so it doesn’t bleed into the remainder of my week.
On Tuesdays, I concentrate on:
→ Shopper calls
→ Pitching and follow-ups
→ Visibility, networking, partaking
→ Launch duties
If it requires me to be “on” or outward-facing, it occurs on Tuesday. At the present time is designed to really feel buzzy and full — and I find it irresistible as a result of I do know Wednesday is coming.
Additionally: Taco Tuesdays. Having weekday night plans that break up the week and provides me one thing to stay up for? Non-negotiable for my psychological well being.
Wednesday: Deep Shopper Work
At the present time is totally protected. No calls. No inner enterprise work. No content material for myself. Simply targeted, uninterrupted consumer supply.
On Wednesdays, I work on:
→ Technique work
→ Shopper running a blog
→ Precision-based duties that want my full mind
I take a protracted stroll later within the day as an alternative of a exercise as a result of by Wednesday afternoon, I want gradual motion and area to assume.
Wednesday protects high quality. It’s the day my finest work occurs as a result of nothing else is competing for my consideration. My purchasers get the very best model of me as a result of I’m not toggling between tabs, Zoom calls, and my very own content material calendar.
Thursday: Calls + Programs + Connection
Reasonable power, connective work. That is the wrap-it-up day — ending what’s open, tying bows, closing loops.
On Thursdays, I deal with:
→ Shopper calls
→ Work on enterprise tasks
→ Wrap up all consumer work
→ E-newsletter
→ Podcast recording or outlining
Thursday is the bridge between deep work and the weekend. It’s lighter than Wednesday however nonetheless productive. By the top of Thursday, all the things is finished. And that’s the magic — when Thursday ends, I’m not carrying unfinished work into Friday. Friday will get to be Friday.
Friday: Day Off
I can use this for artistic tasks. Cleansing the house. Errands. Exploring the town. Studying. Actually no matter feels proper.
The purpose is: I’m not working (except it’s artistic work.)
Fridays off aren’t a reward for getting all the things finished. They’re non-negotiable as a result of the week was designed to make room for them.
Why This Truly Works
Every day has a definite power signature. When all the things has its place, nothing bleeds into all the things else.
Sunday = Prep
Monday = Strategic
Tuesday = Outward
Wednesday = Deep
Thursday = Wrap & join
Friday = Free
I’m not attempting to do all of the issues day by day. I’m letting every day do one factor very well.
And right here’s what I’m studying: after I’m not continually context-switching, I get extra finished in much less time. After I know precisely what sort of power every day requires, I present up higher. After I defend Fridays, I work smarter Monday by way of Thursday as a result of I have to.
The Guidelines That Make It Work
Past the day-by-day construction, there are a number of rules that maintain this complete factor collectively:
Defend my mornings.
No cellphone time till after 9am. I get up at 6:30, and people first few hours are mine.
No permitting enter in till I create first. No scrolling. No letting another person’s urgency dictate my power. That is when my mind is sharpest, when concepts movement best, after I can really assume as an alternative of react. The morning artistic block solely works if I guard it fiercely.
Outsource as many choices as doable.
I’m very susceptible to too-many-choices paralysis, so I’ve systematically eliminated micro-decisions wherever I can.
I choose my exercise set the evening earlier than. I’ve meals delivered for lunches (Thistle, particularly). I eat the identical breakfast day by day.
Sunday is devoted to pre-decisions so the week doesn’t require fixed choice-making. And also you’ll discover this sample all through my weekly construction: every day has a theme.
Monday is CEO day. Tuesday is networking and assembly heavy. Wednesday is deep work. After I know what sort of day it’s, I’m not losing psychological power deciding what to prioritize — I already know.
Hold it unfastened sufficient for play.
This construction isn’t meant to really feel like a jail. It’s unfastened sufficient that I can experiment, pivot, choose and select what sounds good on any given day, and nonetheless keep strategic.
Some Wednesdays I would want a name. Some Mondays I would dive into consumer work. The purpose isn’t inflexible adherence to the schedule; it’s having a default rhythm that makes choices simpler whereas nonetheless leaving room for instinct.
Get outdoors day by day.
I’ve to stroll my canine, so this one’s fairly simple to incorporate, however it’s additionally non-negotiable for my psychological well being. Recent air. Motion that isn’t structured train. Area to assume with out observing a display. I often depart my headphones behind, so I’m not listening to something.
Whether or not it’s a morning stroll earlier than I begin work or a protracted afternoon stroll after work, getting outdoors resets my nervous system and retains me from feeling like I’m residing inside my laptop computer.
These rules are what make the weekly construction really sustainable. With out them, I’d simply be time-blocking my approach into burnout.
My Particular Non-Negotiables for Stability
Past getting issues finished, listed here are the issues that preserve me sane:
→ Barre lessons 4x every week to really feel good in my physique.
If I skip motion, all the things else suffers. I do these in the midst of the day in order that 1) I get out of the home and a couple of) I break up my days.
→ Mondays have room to be slower so I don’t get Sunday scaries.
This was fairly pure for me. I prefer to wean off the weekend, with out leaping full drive into the week.
→ Weekday night plans (like Taco Tuesdays) that break up the week and provides me one thing to stay up for.
Work can’t be the one factor taking place. Life needs to be woven in, not saved for the weekend.
It’s All Adjustable
And most significantly: all the things is adjustable. I’m figuring it out as I am going.
This construction isn’t set in stone. Some weeks, I want to maneuver issues round. Some months, the rhythm shifts. And that’s wonderful. The purpose isn’t to create a inflexible system I’ve to observe completely — it’s to design a framework that helps the life I need to reside.
When you’re additionally experimenting with the way you construction your time, I’d love to listen to what’s working (or what’s completely not).
As a result of truthfully? We’re all simply out right here attempting to determine how one can work exhausting with out burning out, keep productive with out dropping our minds, and construct companies that really feel good to run.
And once you run your individual enterprise, who says you may’t take fridays off?
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