Create Clarity with a Weekly Review

A few years ago, after putting in a 60+ hour work week, I felt exhausted. 

I loved my job. I felt it had meaning. I also experienced success doing it. But at this particular moment, feeling exhausted, I questioned myself.

I needed to be reminded why I was doing what I was doing.

Then I remembered a journaling activity I had recently come across. It encouraged a quick review of the week. It also helped with planning the upcoming week.  

It consisted of six questions: 

• What is one lesson that I learned this week? 

• What is one big thing that I accomplished this week? 

• Did I do anything above and beyond my basic job description this week?

•  Was there a moment when you felt that you were making a difference? 

• Did anyone compliment or comment on my work this week?  What did they say?

• What is one big thing I will accomplish next week? 

I gave it a try. It took about 10 minutes to complete.  

For the first question I wrote: One lesson (which is a reminder) is how hard leadership can be.  It is nice to be a leader when everything is going well, but conflict always occurs. It can be so hard. But it also can be the time to really shine and show your leadership skills. 

For the second question, I wrote one big thing I accomplished that week was completing a finance report for the Ministry of Education. 

The third question, did I do anything above and beyond my basic job, I wrote, I attended a student training day to make sure all the teacher and student needs were met. I didn’t just stop by. I spent the day there and tweaked things to make it better. 

These weren’t huge lessons or life-changing activities or behaviours. They were small and consistent acts that made a job meaningful and successful. 

 I started this work journal in February 2015, and I have continued writing in it ever since. I am fairly consistent with my entries, but sometimes I miss a week or even a month or two before returning to it. But I always do. I also love reading earlier entries to be reminded of life lessons or positive affirmations of my work-life. 

While I am not a person who has kept a personal journal, I do see its benefits, especially for my work-life. It keeps my thoughts organized. I set goals and record ideas. I self-reflect. It also helps me record or track my journey.

I know not everyone enjoys writing, but this type of journal is more or less a quick review of the week and a plan forward. It has helped me a lot.

As a challenge this week, I invite you to give it a try. Try answering these six questions or a variation of them and see what happens. Who knows? A work journal might be the right fit for you too.