Preparing for the Week

I know how some people prepare for the week ... hit the snooze button until the last possible minute, scramble to get ready for work drinking too much coffee, get to the office and start in with voicemail, email and another coffee. It is not relaxing, inspiring or energizing in my experience. Its foundation is one of dread, boredom, rushing and lack of focus. I have tried and it is definitely not the way to start a week.

You may have a different version of starting your week than above ... I hope so! Let me give you one more: I now get up, do a little stretching or yoga, I do get a fresh ground and brewed cup of coffee and I read for a few minutes. I want to EASE into my week and this starts it. I get ready for work (making it casual Monday when I can) and then I head to the office. I don't hit my desk and start working! I go to Starbucks or to my conference room and review my list of goals, dreams, things I want to do, things I want to have and who I need to be. It is another way to ease into work but on a positive note. I look at what I accomplished last week and have a little mental celebration and recognition of what I did and achieved. By the time I finish with my weekly pre and review of why I am working so hard, I am pumped! I am jazzed and focused knowing what all my actions are for.

Some people suggest that you review your plan every day and visualize your goals daily as well. I like that idea. You may have found that hard to do so I think having a weekly review at the start of the week is a great way to get focused regularly. It creates a great habit of success for you and may become a daily ritual. But walk before you run.

Start your week with a pace you like. Actions you like. Rituals that empower you and get you fired up about everything you are going to tackle this week.