Friday & Monk-Mode.
Monk-Mode is where you commit yourself to complete a goal without any distractions. Creatives do this naturally.
I had a great week. Thank you to all those that helped, pushed me, and made the week happen.
However, much of the success and feel-good from the week came from the Friday prior. I realized that I had set myself up for the week.
Friday is the day to set yourself up for a stress-free weekend and a successful week to follow.
With the right mindset and plan, you can make the most of your time off and return to work on Monday feeling refreshed. Here are four specific things you can do to help you achieve this:
Think of the weekend as a vacation. Before heading out on vacation, you likely think about the top priorities that need to progress while you're gone. Use this same mindset on Friday and carve out some time to work ahead on essential projects. This will help you relax over the weekend with a sense of "stocked up" progress.
Write next week's to-do (and to-don't) list. Weekend stress often comes from feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to do. To combat this, take some time on Friday to plan out all the tasks you need to accomplish in the week ahead, breaking them down into manageable chunks and prioritizing them. Additionally, consider creating a "to-don't" list to help prevent yourself from getting sucked into unimportant tasks.
Plan for Monk-Mode. I came across the term Monk-Mode in mid-2022. And now I make plans every week for this seclusion time. (Creatives have been doing Monk-Mode for ages, but now it has a name.) In Monk-Mode, you adopt the isolation of monks - alone or with other people. It's the best way to focus and spend 100% of your energy on one goal or task. You shut out every possible distraction, and this means turning everything off — phones, email, and interruptions.
Micro-goals. Set them for next week, and finish them for this week. Successful CEOs believe in setting and accomplishing weekly goals, or "micro-goals." Use Friday to jot down these goals and ensure your to-do list supports their completion. Make sure to hold these micro-goals sacred, and use Friday to finish the prior week's goals. This will help you stay focused on what matters as the weekend approaches and leave you with a sense of accomplishment each Friday.
Additionally, taking care of yourself and managing your time during the weekend is essential. Consider taking a walk outside, managing your technology, and physically changing your surroundings to help you start the week with a positive mindset. By following these strategies, you can make the most of your weekends and return to work feeling refreshed and energized.