Your Guide to Crafting an Ideal Week
Let’s talk about time – specifically, how to make it work for you instead of feeling like it’s always working against you. Today, we’re diving into the ‘G’ of the ALIGN Method: Guide your ideal week design. And no, this isn’t about cramming more into your already packed schedule!
The Reality Check
We all start with the same 168 hours each week. (I’m guessing some of you just did the mental math to double-check that????) As working moms, much of that time is already claimed by non-negotiables – work schedules, school drop-offs, and the endless parade of ‘must-dos.’
But here’s the game-changing truth: you can be intentional with the time that remains.
I’ve been thinking about this powerful passage from Dr. Edith Eger, an incredible psychologist, Holocaust survivor, and author: “How do you structure your time so you don’t neglect yourself? When do you rest and replenish? How do you create a balance between working, loving, and playing?”
Her books, “The Choice: Embrace the Possible” and “The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life,” were part of my inspiration to take back my time. And now I’d love to help you.
From The Gift, Chapter 3: The Prison of Self-Neglect Dr. Eger comments on one of our first fears is of abandonment: we want attention, affection, approval. “We figure out what to do and who to become to get our needs met. The problem is that we keep doing these things… YOU are the only one you’re going to have for a lifetime… So how can you be the best loving, unconditional, no-nonsense caregiver to yourself?”
Here’s the Cheat-Sheet to GUIDE you to your ideal week.
Your 4-Step Framework for Time Freedom
- Lock in Your Set Tiles First
- Think of your week like a mosaic.( I love this analogy from the book Happier Hour by Dr. Cassie Holmes.) Start with the pieces that have fixed positions – your work hours, school schedules, standing appointments. These create your framework, but they’re not the whole picture.
- Place Your Joy Tiles Next (Yes, Really!)
- This is where many of us go wrong – we wait to add joy until everything else is done. Instead, deliberately block time for what energizes you. Maybe it’s your morning workout, a weekly coffee date with a friend, or that art class you’ve been eyeing. Schedule these during your peak energy hours when possible.
- Create Breathing Room
- Revolutionary idea: schedule empty space. Your week needs margin for the unexpected, for rest, and sometimes just for being spontaneous with your kids. Think of it as your schedule’s oxygen mask – you need it to function.
- Weave It All Together Strategically: Now for the remaining tasks and responsibilities. Here’s where you get creative:
- Bundle activities you enjoy with things you don’t (pair your favorite podcast with laundry or exercise)
- Consolidate the not-so-fun stuff into single sessions (fewer beginnings to dread!)
- Spread out your joy activities to create more moments to look forward to
- Create “no phone zones” during quality family time
- Trade morning duties with your partner for guaranteed me-time
The Permission Slip You Didn’t Know You Needed
Here’s the truth: taking care of yourself isn’t selfish – it’s strategic. When you’re depleted, everyone feels it. Your children don’t need a mom who’s constantly running on empty; they need one who knows how to refill her cup—both as an example for their future selves but also so that you are regulated and not “flying off the handle.” [If you just broke out in a little song and dance from Wicked, I see you????]
I promise when I started looking for joy—my entire focus shifted. Rather than feeling short-changed, I felt empowered to find it and schedule it.
Small Shifts, Big Impact
Start small. Pick one area where you can be more intentional this week:
- Transform chore time with your favorite podcast
- Create a sacred morning routine, even if it’s just 15 minutes
- Set up a weekly “mom’s off duty” window
- Institute a phone-free family dinner
Remember: This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress. Your ideal week will look different from everyone else’s, and that’s exactly how it should be.
Your Next Step
Look at next week’s calendar. Where can you place one joy tile? Just one. Start there. Because an ideal week isn’t built in a day, but it does start with a single intentional choice.
You’ve got this. One tile at a time.
Heidi
And if you ever want more one-on-one coaching, schedule a call below and see if this is the right move for you!
