GNT #019: 3 Essential Meetings to Win the Week

Read time: 3.5 minutes

Does this feel like your week right now?

By Friday are you pulled in so many directions, that you ended up not accomplishing what was a priority for you?

This was me when I started my business.

It's so easy to feel frantic and overwhelmed with the many responsibilities on your plate, whether you're a business owner, lead a team, or manage multiple projects.

This is important, because when we feel overwhelmed and buried, we're not as productive and MOST IMPORTANTLY we're not in an emotionally healthy state of mind for the long-game.

I started following Eric Partaker on LinkedIn last year. Eric coaches high performing CEOs and entrepreneurs, and educates on systems to help manage our time. (This article includes tips I learned from Eric + bonus Colleen material)

Today, I’m sharing the 3 essential meetings I schedule with myself to ensure I win the week and don't run off the rails.

Since I've started scheduling these meetings I've felt less crazy, more focused, and better able to confidently step away from my work at the end of the day.

(Everyone's role is different. Take what resonates here and works for your life. Perhaps you'll create your own version of these 3 meetings?)

Let's dig in.

Meeting #1: The shutdown routine

I used to be notorious for working till the last possible second before I had to pick up my kids in a flurry or head out for weeknight activities.

The result?

I'd be thinking about work into the late evening.

What I had to do the next day to pick up where I left off.

After starting this shutdown routine, I feel like there's a better separation between work ending and personal life beginning.

I finish up my work day less stressed and more organized about what I need to do the next day.

How to implement:

• Schedule a calendar invite with yourself 30 minutes before you'd like to end your work day, titled: "Shutdown".
• In the meeting description, paste these items (+ any other tasks that would help you close out your day):
  
  • Final email review
  • Update to-do list and order of priority
  • Review next day calendar
  • Choose top three objectives
  • Schedule those objectives as appointments with yourself

Meeting #2: Morning creative before reactive

I typically always started my work day by tackling email first, then my To-Do list and THEN work towards my big rocks and projects.

The result?

Lack of progress on my highest priorities.

Now I know why.

Eric talks about, "creative work before reactive work."

How to implement:

• Schedule a calendar invite with yourself called, "Morning Creative." If possible, schedule it in the first hour of your day. Work on the #1 priority identified in your Shutdown the day before.
• In the meeting description, paste these items (any other tasks):
  • Shut off phone
  • Close inbox and anything not related to your #1 priority
  • Work on your #1 priority, distraction-free, for 60 minutes

At the top of my morning meeting list I also include my One Line A Day Journal and my daily affirmations to set the tone for the day.

Meeting #3: Close out the Week

When I started my business, I scheduled Friday afternoons for my business operations work like bookkeeping, sending invoices, and taking training/online learning.

When I saw Eric's weekly review meeting suggestion, I knew I needed to add a couple items to my list.

I now use my Friday meeting as a chance to step back from the daily grind, reflect, and intentionally decide how to use the next week's time.

How to implement:

• Schedule a calendar invite for yourself on Friday named "Close out the Week"
• In the meeting description, paste these items (any other tasks):
  • Review the week just past
  • Review the next 2 weeks ahead
  • Revisit goals (yearly/quarterly)
  • Choose top 3 outcomes for week ahead
  • Schedule time to work on those outcomes as calendar appointments

I've also just started an end of month meeting with myself to review business and family goals - I'm still fine tuning my checklist for that!

Takeaways

It's so simple, but having these meetings on my calendar helps me better manage my time and sanity.

Try scheduling these meetings on your calendar, and see if you feel more less crazy, more focused, and better able to confidently step away from work.

• Daily Shutdown Routine
• Morning Creative Before Reactive
• Close Out the Week

I hope this was helpful.

See you again next week!



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