Every day, there are many tasks swirling in our minds that need to get done. To keep track of those, a weekly to do list is a great resource. Staying organized is the key to getting all the things done.
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Like so many women, I have a few roles that I play every single day. So much is usually swirling in my mind that it’s easy to forget the tasks for the day. A few years ago, I implemented a weekly to do list that has been a lifeline for me. Today, I am sharing my free printable with you and a little information about how I use it to keep myself on track.
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HOW TO USE A WEEKLY TO DO LIST
I typically print out these lists 10-15 pages at a time and attach them together with two staples on the left side. As one week ends, it is easy to tear that sheet off, throw it away, and use the next week’s page.
At the beginning of each month, I go through the next four weeks and put the date on each day of the week. I follow that up with filling in some of the tasks I already have on my family calendar. {There is a wall calendar in our kitchen that holds all of our family activities.}
For me, tasks such as my kid’s activities goes on this list too. It’s part “help me remember” and part “I enjoy crossing things off a list.” Beyond that, I list weekly tasks such as laundry, changing bed sheets, and cleaning bathrooms.
Also going on my weekly to do list are tasks such as phone calls or emails that I need to take care of. There are always those items that happen rarely and are planned in advance, but are so easy to forget. I write it on my weekly to do list and then am able to temporarily forget about it and focus on the day in front of me.
Each morning, I take a quick peek at my list for that day to remind myself of what needs to happen. I check back a few times that day to remind myself and cross off tasks as they are completed.
GIVE YOURSELF GRACE
Often, to do lists can get a bad rap. And I understand people’s hesitancy with the position of feeling bound to a list. I am not advocating for a weekly to do list that controls our days. Rather, it’s the opposite.
Writing out the tasks that I have to do each week actually gives me more freedom. I am no longer held by the constant need to remember everything that has to be done. After writing it down, I can move on with life.
Also…as each day goes by, I know which tasks are essential and which can be pushed off as life happens. If my day gets full and I don’t water the plants, all is fine. However, if I have a time-sensitive phone call to make or an appointment to get to, those are non-negotiables and I am sure to fit that in.
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WHY A WEEKLY TO DO LIST
For me, this weekly to do list serves as a reminder for the various roles I play each day. And having a week at a time written down in one spot, keeps my mind from becoming overwhelmed with remembering everything.
I am also free to make adjustments as the week goes on. If life is especially busy one week, I can push off some of the tasks I was hoping to get to and only focus on the ones that absolutely need to get done.
WHAT TO PUT ON THE LIST
The part that I like best about this way of organizing my weeks is that it is highly personalized. It is also specific. If I have a list that simply says I need to do X, Y, and Z during the week, it won’t get done. By placing it on an exact day, it is more likely to be accomplished. {Again, keeping in mind that adjustments and grace may be needed.}
For me, I list some tasks on the same day each week. And that even changes and adjusts. During the summer, my homeschool mom gig is minimal, so items like laundry, changing sheets, and cleaning bathrooms can be accomplished during the week. But during the school year, those specific tasks are written on my Saturday list. By doing this, I am setting myself up for success. Being reasonable and not overwhelming our calendar is also a great way to keep from adding too much.
Other items to add to the list would be monthly or bi-monthly tasks. In my home, that includes things like cleaning our Berkey water system, mopping the floors, wiping baseboards, etc. I write those tasks in at the beginning of each month when I set my days up. Again, I give myself grace. For example: I typically write in the Berkey on the first of each month. My goal is to complete that task within a few days of the first.
Make this weekly to do list work FOR you…and not the other way around of you working for it.
FREE PRINTABLE
To help you get organized, I am sharing my weekly to do list printable. I hope that it helps you as much as it does me.
You will notice that each day is organized vertically with the day of the week listed. Above that is a blank line for you to fill in the number that corresponds with that day of the week. For me, I just continue from one month to another as it happens during the week. For example, if the 30th of the month falls on a Tuesday, I continue to the very next day of Wednesday and label it with a 1. A new month doesn’t mean a new week, so I just keep the flow of the week going.
Click HERE for the free printable.
I hope you find this helpful and I want to encourage you to make this weekly to do list into any type of system that works best for you!
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