Run the weekly review
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The idea in everyday life
Close the week, update every trusted surface, learn from estimates, and build the next plan without self-punishment.
The weekly review is system maintenance: clear, reconcile, reflect, and recommit.
One step at a time.
Use the sample or information you have permission to use. Keep your work as you go. You can pause between steps.
- 1
Clear capture points and reconcile past and future calendar, projects, next actions, waiting items, messages, and deadlines.
- 2
Score weekly outcomes by evidence, noting what completed, changed, moved, or no longer matters.
- 3
Compare estimated and actual time, identify overload, interruption, avoidance, energy, and dependency patterns.
- 4
Choose the next outcomes, reserve capacity, communicate changes, and schedule the following review before stopping.
See how it works.
Imani finishes two outcomes, renegotiates the third after a dependency slips, and reduces next week’s plan based on actual focus time.
Did you cover these?
- Your work includes four completed weekly review records with outcome score, estimate lessons, system cleanup, and next-week decisions.
- Check this common mistake: Using the review to roll every unfinished task forward without questioning value, scope, ownership, or available capacity.
- The calendar and lists reflect current reality, old commitments have decisions, and the next week fits known capacity.
What to finish
Four completed weekly review records with outcome score, estimate lessons, system cleanup, and next-week decisions.
Watch for this
Using the review to roll every unfinished task forward without questioning value, scope, ownership, or available capacity.
How can I tell I understand it?
The calendar and lists reflect current reality, old commitments have decisions, and the next week fits known capacity.
Quick knowledge check
Answer all 3 questions. Get at least 2 right and the lesson completes automatically.
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Answer all 3 questions above and get at least 2 right. You can review the explanations and try again.
Go to the knowledge checkOptional course overview video · same video as Lesson 1
Cal Newport's Planning System
From Cal Newport. Watch here or open it on YouTube .
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