Weekly review process

{{whyLabel}}: You cannot review what you cannot see; hidden tasks create mental drag.

{{howLabel}}:

• List every place where 'inputs' arrive: email accounts, physical mailboxes, messaging apps, and notebook pockets.
• Identify your 'Someday/Maybe' lists and current project folders.
• Document where your calendar lives (digital or paper).

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You have a complete list of all 'Inboxes' that need to be cleared during a review.

{{whyLabel}}: A single source of truth prevents fragmentation and decision fatigue.

{{howLabel}}:

• Choose a digital task manager (e.g., an open-source option like Logseq or Joplin, or a standard tool like Todoist).
• Ensure it supports 'Projects' (multi-step tasks) and 'Labels' (contexts).
• Avoid complex setups initially; focus on a simple list structure.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: A central tool is chosen and all active tasks are migrated into it.

{{whyLabel}}: Consistency is the only way a review system survives the 'busy' trap.

{{howLabel}}:

• Block 60-90 minutes in your calendar for Friday afternoon (to clear your head for the weekend) or Sunday evening (to prep for Monday).
• Set this as a recurring 'High Priority' event.
• Choose a specific environment (e.g., a quiet cafe or a clean desk) to trigger the habit.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: A recurring calendar invite is active for the next 12 weeks.

{{whyLabel}}: Uncaptured thoughts consume 'RAM' in your brain, causing anxiety.

{{howLabel}}:

• Write down every single thing on your mind: errands, project ideas, worries, or people to call.
• Use 'Trigger Lists' (standard in David Allen’s GTD) to prompt forgotten areas like 'Health', 'Home', or 'Finances'.
• Do not organize yet; just get it all on paper/screen.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You feel a sense of mental 'emptiness' and have a list of raw inputs.

{{whyLabel}}: Stale inputs in your inbox create a backlog that makes the system untrustworthy.

{{howLabel}}:

• Go through the list from Phase 1 (emails, physical mail, notes).
• For each item, decide: Trash it, Delegate it, Do it (if <2 mins), or File it as a Task/Project.
• Aim for 'Inbox Zero' in your primary task collector.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: All physical and digital inboxes are empty or processed.

{{whyLabel}}: The calendar is the most objective record of your commitments.

{{howLabel}}:

• Look at the past week: Did you miss any follow-ups? Are there new tasks from meetings?
• Look at the next two weeks: What do you need to prepare for? Are there any conflicts?
• Capture these as specific 'Next Actions' in your task manager.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: Your calendar is synchronized with your task list.

{{whyLabel}}: Projects often stall because we are waiting on others without realizing it.

{{howLabel}}:

• Review all tasks marked as 'Waiting For'.
• Send 'ping' emails or messages for overdue items.
• If a response is no longer needed, delete the item.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: Every pending item has been followed up on or closed.

{{whyLabel}}: It is easy to be busy without being productive; this aligns daily work with long-term vision.

{{howLabel}}:

• List your top 3 goals for the quarter.
• Check if your current 'Active Projects' actually move the needle on these goals.
• Mark projects as 'On Hold' if they don't align with current priorities.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: Your project list is pruned to only include goal-aligned work.

{{whyLabel}}: Systems fail because users tweak them before they become a habit.

{{howLabel}}:

• Follow the exact review steps defined above for four consecutive weeks.
• Do not add new tools or change the software during this period.
• Note down 'friction points' (steps that feel too long or confusing) in a separate note.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: Four weekly reviews have been completed without skipping.

{{whyLabel}}: A review that takes 3 hours won't be maintained; it must be lean.

{{howLabel}}:

• Review your notes from the pilot phase.
• Identify steps that took the most time with the least value.
• Automate where possible (e.g., using 'if-this-then-that' tools to pull tasks into one place) or remove redundant checks.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: A 'Version 2.0' checklist is created that is 20% faster than the original.

{{whyLabel}}: Over-planning leads to failure; focus creates momentum.

{{howLabel}}:

• At the end of every review, identify exactly 3 'Must-Win' outcomes for the next week.
• Schedule these outcomes into your calendar as deep-work blocks.
• Accept that other tasks are secondary to these three.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You have 3 clear priorities for the next 7 days.