Today I looked back at my last Week’s Plan and laughed. (In other words, I panicked.) I had an ambitious week mapped out and nothing of my plan came to be. Nothing. Monday started off pretty well because I had an early meeting scheduled, but by Tuesday I was procrastinating and chasing random distractions and committing to more obligations so that by Friday I had lost sight of my priorities and was completely overwhelmed.
Saturday was dedicated to lying on the couch and watching videos for— get this— eight hours straight, accompanied by thoughts of, “I’m screwed,” sprinkled between, “I’m so happy I have Netflix.”
Feeling overwhelmed is an malady I know well; escape is one of its symptoms. And so, I prepare a tincture in the form of this article, a reminder as a remedy. If you’ve ever been visited by anxiety in similar circumstances, then for heaven’s sake, drink with me.
The Elixer of Another Chance
In the Pilot Fire Simple System for Everything, the practice of making a Week’s Plan every week is the most important. Take a few minutes to pause and reflect, organize the next steps of your life into a short checklist that serves as your guide and gives you a shot at having a great week. Here is why:
The Week’s Plan gives you a reason to breathe.
The Week’s Plan links your aspirations to your actions.
The Week’s Plan connects you to your roles and your own vision of who you are when you are at your best.
Even if you’re already fairly organized, The Week’s Plan shows you the path to a balanced life.
The Week’s Plan resets you after a crappy week.
A Week’s Plan is easy to make.
The Week’s Plan is the best way I know to lean on the wheel and steer your life. And because there are many weeks in a lifetime, each an opportunity to take a few steps and find out what’s there when you do, they add up. Knowing what you want makes all the difference to where you arrive.
So here it is, the famous process I give so much credit:
Plan a Great Week in 20 minutes
And when your plans dissolve into reality? Well, then, there’s next week— and another chance.