The Weekly Reset I Won’t Skip

One habit I don’t skip is a standing two-week calendar review. It’s simple, doesn’t require new technology, and consistently pays off in clarity, effectiveness, and peace of mind.

Practically, this review helps me plan ahead, protect priorities, and make deliberate decisions about where my time and energy go. Personally, it reduces anxiety, especially over the weekend and at night, because I’ve already looked ahead and know what’s coming. It also takes the edge off the Sunday Scaries, because Monday no longer feels like a surprise. I’ve already prepared for it. When you adopt this practice, it can do the same for you.

• Cancel meetings that are no longer necessary

• Delegate where it makes sense

• Show up prepared to the meetings you do attend, with clear intent and agendas

• Reflect on the past week and send your Friday Email (The Friday Email Concept — The Tigris Group),

The result: you head into the weekend with a sense of closure and into Monday with confidence.

How to Do a Two-Week Calendar Review

1. Block the time.

• Treat this like any important meeting.

• Put it directly on your calendar so it doesn’t get pushed aside (Calendar as Boss — The Tigris Group).

2. Pick a time when you can think clearly.

• Avoid end-of-day fatigue. Friday mornings work well for me.

• Choose a time when distractions are minimal, so your thinking is sharp.

3. Review the next two weeks (one week at minimum).

• Go through every meeting and make intentional decisions.

• If you have an assistant, do this together; if not, no problem, you can do this by yourself.

Step One: Review Every Meeting

For each meeting, ask yourself:

• Does this meeting still need to happen? Cancel, if not. Meetings that once made sense don’t always stay relevant.

• For meetings that remain: Is there an agenda and do I need to attend? If there’s no agenda, pause. Decide if your presence is required or if a designee can attend. Delegate when possible.

• What is your role? Clarify whether you need to prepare, gather information, or contact the meeting owner. If you need more information, request it during this time. If you’re responsible for the agenda, plan for it. Use the time freed up from canceling or delegating meetings to block prep time on your calendar.

Step Two: Review Deadlines and Priority Projects

• Look at upcoming deadlines and major projects.

• Work backward and block time for key tasks.

• Example: If a business plan is due Friday, January 30:

  • Set a reminder for final edits by Monday, January 26

  • Block time to complete them

This approach keeps deadlines from piling up and allows you to work intentionally.

Step Three: Include Personal Commitments

• Check that family and personal events are on your calendar.

• Keep personal and professional events together for visibility.

• Details aren’t necessary and you can mark items “private” if you prefer, but if you need to take the kids to soccer, it belongs on your work calendar.

Step Four: Reflect and Close the Loop

• After reviewing meetings, deadlines, and priorities, take a few minutes to reflect on the past week.

• Feed those insights directly into your Friday Email to your boss (The Friday Email Concept — The Tigris Group).

Final Thoughts

Once this becomes a habit, it stops feeling like extra work. It becomes the way you close one week and set up the next and it quiets anxiety over the weekend due to the unknown. By Monday, you’ve already made decisions, freed up time, and clarified priorities, so you can start the week focused and prepared.