• The Nuclear Family
    • Kids and Family
    • Mothering
    • Marriage
    • Neighboring
  • Self-Sufficiency
    • Hunting
    • Foraging
    • Self-sufficiency
  • Money-Saving
  • Side Hustles
    • Facebook Marketplace
  • Productivity
  • In The Kitchen
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
    • Side dishes
    • Snacks
A Productive Household

A Productive Household

Recovering the family that creates value together

  • Blog
  • About
  • Shop
  • Contact

The Simplest Weekly Planning Strategy (no fancy planner required!)

Productivity

Tweet
Share
Pin3
3 Shares

I’ve tried different planners and tools to plan out my weeks, but none have worked as well as this super-simple spiral notebook method. It’s the simplest weekly planning strategy! It works well in almost any season of life and keeps you from having to spend money on a fancy planner.

spiral notebook and pens

This post contains affiliate links, which means we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our full disclosure here.

Why plan out your week?

I’ve always been a planner. Planning out the week helps me make the most out of my days. It keeps me focused. In seasons when I’m away from the house a lot, planning helps me remember the tasks that need to be done each day that I might otherwise forget. In this season of being home with the kids most of the time, planning keeps me on track and gives me a sense of direction for the days and weeks.

When I write down most of the tasks that I want to accomplish, it also helps me visualize during which parts of the day I can best get them done. For example, computer work is usually done during nap time. But sorting clothes or vacuuming the carpet can be done during the morning when the kids are around. When each task is written down, I can easily glance at my list mid-morning with a baby on my hip and a toddler nearby and know what can be done next without using a lot of brainpower.

How planning out my week helps me stay productive

I honestly can’t think of the last time I was “bored” at home. I love getting things done and it’s very rare that I don’t know what to do next. There’s always something!

However, having kids totally does take a ton of brainpower! It’s not easy to organize your mind when someone needs a diaper change, someone’s asking for a snack, and you’re thinking about what to make for dinner. I would be sooo much less productive if I didn’t have the tasks written out in front of me!

The weekly planner also helps a ton for strategic family task planning. Garrett and I often have random conversations about what we want to get done this week. If we don’t write the tasks down (no matter how small), they can be easily forgotten. My weekly planning method allows me to remember them without assigning them to a specific hour of the week. That way, when the kids go to bed and we’re trying to figure out what to get done that evening, we can look at the list and see what would fit best in the time we have.

the simplest weekly planning strategy spiral notebooks on table

Is it possible to have a weekly planning strategy that works with kids?

Yes! The best part of this strategy is that every task isn’t necessarily assigned to a day or time. In addition, I can use the planner to remind myself which tasks MUST be done and which tasks I’d like to complete. Differentiating between these two sets of tasks makes it super do-able to stay productive even with littles.

The simplest weekly planning strategy (how I plan my week)

My weekly planning strategy is done with nothing but a pen and a regular, spiral-bound notebook. I usually spend just a few dollars on a 3-subject notebook like this one. It lasts me at least a year and a half. The notebook is then basically my lifeline until it runs out and I start a new one!

Most weeks, I’ll do the majority of my planning on Saturday night or Monday morning so I can be prepared for the week. However, many tasks also get written down as the week goes on.

First, I start by writing out the days of the week throughout the page.

step 1 the simplest weekly planning strategy

Next, I write down everything that I know needs to be done on specific days. For example, grocery planning on Monday, grocery shopping on Tuesday, meeting on Thursday, etc.

step 2 the simplest weekly planning strategy

After that, I’ll go to the top of the page and fill in the tasks that I’d like to work on or finish but aren’t necessarily time-specific. This often includes batch food that needs to be made, errands that need to be run, or cleaning or organizing that I want to accomplish.

step 3 the simplest weekly planning strategy

Once these parts are completed, it’s easy to fill in the rest of the week. I can look what NEEDS to be done each day. Then, depending on how busy that day is, add a couple of tasks from the top of the list. Other tasks tend to get added throughout the week, such as laundry or anything else that comes up.

step 4 the simplest weekly planning strategy

Finding the balance between too many goals and not enough goals

I thrive on accomplishing goals and getting things done! Therefore, it’s frustrating to me when the day is done and not everything is crossed off my list.

Even so, I don’t want to be a slave to my list. My first priority is being there for my kids and my husband. Often, this means something unexpected comes up and the list has to wait. Diaper blowouts and missed naps happen sometimes. And that’s okay!

I remedy this by trying to assign a little less than I think I can accomplish for the day. This way, I have a better chance of getting it all done and feeling less frustrated. Then, if I have more time, I can go to the top of the page and start on another task that wasn’t assigned to a specific day.

Other tips and tricks for planning your week

It’s a rare week when every single item on the list is accomplished. Don’t fret if things are left over! Just roll them over to the next week.

Another strategy that helps me a ton is always prioritizing the most important tasks. Sometimes I do this on paper, and sometimes it’s just in my head. Simply put a star next to the tasks that are essential. Then, you won’t have to think hard when deciding what to do first!

My other favorite part about this notebook method is that it leaves room for any other notes or information that I need to remember. Most of the back sides of the pages of my notebook are filled with random lists or ideas or other notes that come up during the weeks. Pretty much all of the information I need to remember is somewhere in my notebook. This way, I don’t have to search around the house through piles of sticky notes when I need to remember something!

Make the simplest weekly planning strategy work for you!

I hope this simple weekly planning strategy helps you in your endeavors to stay productive and serve your family and others! I love how it helps me make the most of my time and takes the effort out of remembering all of the things.

What are your favorite ways to stay productive in your week?

Tweet
Share
Pin3
3 Shares

March 5, 2022 · Leave a Comment

Subscribe to get the latest

By subscribing to our newsletter, you consent to receive new post updates and occasional promotional emails related to our company.

Previous Post: « How to Make Hospitality Easy When You Have Littles
Next Post: What to Do When You’re Bored As a Stay-at-Home Mom »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Let’s Connect

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

We’re glad you’re here!

Hello! We’re the Finches. We’re here to share what our family is learning about using our time to create value through the homefront. Join us!

You can read more about us here.

never miss a post!

By subscribing to our newsletter, you consent to receive new post updates and occasional promotional emails related to our company.

Latest on Instagram

aproductivehousehold

aproductivehousehold
The other day, I spent the afternoon making yogurt The other day, I spent the afternoon making yogurt and baby food and homemade lemonade while listening to @dr.ashleyturner , and I couldn't help thinking about what a gift it is to be constantly learning.

Especially during this time of year, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by how MANY opportunities there are. There is so much that I could learn, cook, preserve, do. So many people offering free vegetables that I could do something with. 😂

But time and resources are limited, and that is okay! It’s okay to say no to things that may be good but not BEST.

I’d love to make pickles, but there are other foods that my family eats more and would be a better use of my time. 

I’d love to grow all the fall crops, but I don’t have the space or time.

I’ve become totally okay with saying no to some opportunities and not feeling guilty. There are always more opportunities to learn and grow. 

Do the next thing and keep learning a little each year!

#aproductivehousehold #homemadebabyfood #homemadeyogurt #foodpreservation #onethingatatime
10-MINUTE DATE ENERGY BARS I'm always looking for 10-MINUTE DATE ENERGY BARS

I'm always looking for healthy snacks that we can take in the car or that I can feed to the kids quickly without making a mess (or with minimal mess at least). 

I made these date bars the other day with some of our favorite ingredients, and they were so easy. I actually made them out of slight desperation and laziness because I was so tired of rolling peanut butter energy bites into balls. (Does anyone else make these and extremely dislike a bunch of messy, sticky peanut butter on your hands?)

Anyway, I wanted to share the recipe with you here!

10-MINUTE DATE ENERGY BARS 

Ingredients:

1 cup dates
1/2 cup apricots
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup walnuts
2 Tablespoons chia seeds
1 teaspoon cinnamon

To make:

1. Add all ingredients to a food processor and pulse
2. Line a 9" x 9" pan with parchment paper
3. Press mixture into pan to form into a square
4. Lift parchment paper out of pan to cut energy bars
5. Store cut bars in a plastic container in the refrigerator (use strips of parchment paper between the layers to prevent sticking to each other)

That's it! Let me know if you try them!

I also posted this on the blog with more ingredient ideas. I love that you can totally use whatever ingredients you have or like best, just as long as there's enough dried fruit to make them really stick together.

https://aproductivehousehold.com/10-minute-date-energy-bars-no-sugar-added

#dateenergybars #nosugaraddedsnacks #healthysnacksforkids #healthysnacks #homemadesnacks #datebars #energybars #easysnacks
"Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for a "Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait."

from A Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Our green beans were struggling this year, so we started a few more a week or so ago. They're growing well, so hopefully we get some green beans after all!

What part of your garden is doing the best? Did anything you planted not work out this year?

#longfellow #poetry #aproductivehousehold #planting
I am too excited about these pillow covers. I've I am too excited about these pillow covers.

I've been wanting to replace our old, non-matching throw pillows for months (years?), but geez, pillows are expensive! And that's just not something I was excited to spend money on.

Instead, I found the simplest, most forgiving way to make throw pillow covers. I literally forgot my measuring tools in the kids' rooms while they were asleep and eyeballed the cuts on a bunch of these, and they still turned out great. 

And the best part was that I made all 7 of them for about $20 total! 

They were so easy and so fast and so cheap, and I am way too stoked on throw pillow covers now.

Here's the pattern if you want to make any yourself! ⬇️

https://aproductivehousehold.com/how-to-make-pillow-covers-without-a-zipper

(or just click the link in our bio)

#diythrowpillowcovers 
#diypillowcovers 
#nozipperpillowcovers #envelopepillowcovers 
#envelopethrowpillows
#handsewnpillowcovers #aproductivehousehold
#homemakingonabudget
We’re out in the country enough that we have no We’re out in the country enough that we have no phone service or internet when we’re in our yard.

I love being able to go outside with the kids and not have to even think about my phone going off. It feels so great to be able to just play with them and not be interrupted by notifications, and the kids definitely feel the difference too.

What do you find are some of the best techniques for using your phone as a tool versus a constant distraction during the day? 

I’ve been working on being very intentional about what I’m doing; only getting on when I have a good reason (though this does not always happen). Also, leaving it in one spot until I really need it rather than carrying it around the house.

Anything else that works really well for you?
DIY Outdoor Play Area (swipe to see the 'before' DIY Outdoor Play Area

(swipe to see the 'before' pic)

We really wanted to create a play area that would make mowing around the swing set easier and make the yard look a little bit neater. 

Unfortunately, most of the designs for play areas similar to what we wanted either cost a lot or were super time consuming. We got this play set for free last summer, so making a big investment in the wood chips underneath it was not on our priority list. Haha.

However, Garrett figured out a way to make this in half a Saturday for about $50! Pretty exciting stuff, honestly. 

It's kept the weeds out, looks so much better, and makes mowing a ton easier. 

We shared on the blog exactly how we did it and what materials we used. Link in bio!

#diyplayarea #outdoorplayarea #cheapplayareaforkids
Load More Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Anchored Theme on Genesis Framework · Privacy Policy · WordPress · Log in