How I Do a 15-Minute Weekly Review (And Why It Sticks)
My weekly review is not a candlelit ritual involving a leather notebook and a heroic amount of tea. It is 15 minutes on Sunday evening, usually at my kitchen table, with Google Calendar, Todoist, and whatever pen I can find.
The goal is simple: make Monday less surprising.
I Set a Real Timer
I use the Timer app on my iPhone and set it for 15 minutes. This matters because “I’ll review my week properly” is how I once lost 47 minutes reorganizing task labels.
A short limit keeps the review useful. I am not trying to solve my life; I am deciding what needs attention next.
I Start With the Calendar
First, I scan the previous seven days in Google Calendar. I look for loose ends: a meeting that needs a follow-up, an expense I need to submit, or a dentist appointment I forgot to add to my task list.
Then I check the coming week for timing problems. If I have a 9:00 a.m. Zoom call Tuesday and need to drive my daughter to school, I fix that conflict now, while I still possess optimism.
I Clear My Task Inbox
Next, I open Todoist and process every item in my inbox. Most tasks become one of four things:
- Do this week
- Schedule for a specific day
- Delegate or ask someone about it
- Delete, because “research standing desks” has survived three seasons without becoming urgent
I aim for no more than 12 tasks in my “This Week” list. If everything is important, nothing is; also, I have apparently become a project manager for a very small, tired company.
I Pick Three Outcomes
Before the timer ends, I write three outcomes for the week on a sticky note. These are not tiny errands like “buy batteries.” They are results I want by Friday, such as:
- Send the revised proposal to Maya.
- Finish the first draft of the insurance claim.
- Book the annual car service at Jiffy Lube.
The sticky note goes beside my laptop. It is harder to ignore than an app notification, which I have trained myself to dismiss with Olympic skill.
FAQ
### What if I miss a week?
I do the next review as usual. I do not “catch up” with a 90-minute mega-review. The routine sticks because it is small enough to restart without drama.