Using Weekly Reviews for Work and Life
There was a time in my life when I tried to squeeze the most out of every minute. I read all the time management books, color-coded my calendar, and optimized everything. If it didn’t make me more productive, it had to go.
Eventually I started to note that there was no end to these demands I was making for myself and I experienced periods of extreme burnout and stress because I wasn’t properly caring for myself. I might understand that things like sleep and training were important to perform my daily tasks better, but’s a rather punishing viewpoint.
How sad is it to view yourself as a vehicle for productivity, rather than a human. I was on that track and felt deeply uncomfortable about that. I’m sure I’ll write a blog post on this idea later on.
But this blog post is about how helpful the idea of a weekly review has been for me in making sure I’m aligned with the things that are important to me NOW.
The nice part about this weekly ritual is that it can adjust and change depending on what season of life you’re in. I’m currently working full time and it’s useful for keeping track of my accomplishments at work for when annual reviews come around, but when I was staying at home with the kids it was also helpful to show me how I was spending my days.
Whether you're working full-time, rebuilding your life after divorce, or simply trying to stay connected to your values in the chaos of daily life, this practice can offer a small but steady anchor.
Why Do a Weekly Review?
Not to get more done.
Not to hustle harder.
But to ask: How did I spend the time I had this week? How did it feel? What mattered?
We all have 168 hours in a week, and a weekly review is a way of gently reflecting on how those hours were spent. But what I’d ask of you to consider is to do this not from a place of judgment, but from a place of curiosity.
As I mentioned before, I currently work full-time and use the review to keep track of my projects, how I spent my time, and what I learned. I also keep a daily journal for work which I’ll write about in another blog post.
When I was at home with small kids, I used it to reflect on the rhythm of our days, the moments of connection I cherished, what my energy levels were like and general notes about keeping the household and personal projects I was working on.
The habit has changed shape over the years, but the heart of it remains the same. It helps me answer the question: Is my life moving in the direction of what I care about most?
How I Do my Weekly Review for Work
At the end of each week—usually Friday afternoon—I open a simple document and I jot down:
What I worked on each day
How much time I spent on key projects
Highlights or wins (big or small)
Challenges or things that didn’t go to plan
Notes from meetings or conversations that sparked new ideas
I also reflect on:
How I felt during the week
How I collaborated with others
What I might want to explore further for growth
I’m less concerned with tracking every minute as I am seeing a broad overview of how I’m spending my week. And more specifically, if what I’m spending my time on is moving me closer to the life I’m hoping to build.
It’s a powerful way to document progress, especially when performance reviews roll around. But even more importantly, it helps me connect my work to a larger sense of purpose.
Using the Weekly Review for Life Outside Work
The weekly review doesn’t have to be about your job. If you’re staying home, rebuilding after a tough chapter, or focusing on a personal goal, this habit is just as powerful.
Here are some questions you might ask:
How did I care for myself this week?
Where did I experience joy or connection?
What routines are supporting me, and which ones aren’t?
Did I move my body? Rest enough? Learn something new?
Am I showing up for the people I love in the way I want to?
The key is to ground your reflections in your values, not external achievements. What’s important to you? Where do you want to keep growing? What kind of life do you want to build, one week at a time?
Let AI Support the Process
Sometimes your brain is too full (or too foggy) to make sense of the week. That’s okay.
I’ll often do a quick voice note dump or scribble messy thoughts into a document, then use AI to help me organize or spot patterns.
Even just keeping a raw, running log of what you did, what you felt, and what you noticed can help you gain clarity over time.
What Happens After the Review?
Reflecting is one thing, but deciding what to do with that information is where the power lies.
Once I’ve reviewed my week, I’ll usually set a few gentle intentions for the week ahead:
One or two project-related or personal tasks
One intention focused on growth or wellness
Sometimes I course-correct, sometimes I feel encouraged by the ease of my important habits, sometimes I simply make note of how things went and wait for more time to pass before I decide about how to move next..
A Final Thought
The weekly review won’t necessarily make you more productive. However, it can help you discover if you’re heading in a direction that connects you to your values and what matters.