So are you one of those who use Sunday for catching up on sleep? Alternatively may be you belong to the group that uses Sunday to review the past week and plan for the one ahead. Research shows that people who take time to plan out their week on Sundays tend to be more productive.

I hope that if you belong to the first group, after reading this post you will be convinced to join the second group.

It appears safe for me to declare that I belong to the second group. I have written about what I do on Sundays to jump start my week. However after reading Christine Kane\’s book The Soul Sourced Entrepreneur, she introduced me to what she calls the Sunday Summit. According to her,

\”used frequently, the Sunday Summit will bring clarity about both your business or career and yourself\”. 

This practice also frees up your energy and improves the quality of not only your intentions but also the decision making process all of which create a mindset for success.

Below I share five practices that anyone juggling several balls can use in their Sunday Summit to ensure that they win the week. A word of caution before we dive in, let us all affirm the words of Stephen Covey

\”I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions\”.

 

 

#1. Review Your Goals For The Year

I have shared tips on how you can set and accomplish goals effectively. One of the ways to do this is to ensure that you keep your goals before you. I use my goal setting sheet and the 12 week year system. These documents ensure that my five goals for the year are constantly before me. They also help me to focus on three main priorities per quarter.

The main reason people do not achieve the goals they set is they do not take time to review them all the time. A weekly review is good because you are able to decide on what you need to do to help you achieve a particular goal. Keep in mind that it is the small actions we take on a regular basis that eventually give us the results we crave.

Some of the questions that Christine Kane says you ask for your Sunday Summit are:

1. What are my top three priorities for the coming week?
2. What will be my biggest priority that will make me proud? It is advisable that you choose one thing that will greatly move the needle in your goals and then throw your focus on this one thing.

#2. Conduct A Review Of The Past Week

It is good to always keep in mind that some weeks will be better than others. However no matter what the week brings. It is imperative that you begin by acknowledging your accomplishments however small they maybe. Doing this ensures that you bring awareness to what is going well and take time to bask in it.

One of my philosophies in life is to focus on what is going well. I find that this helps me to find the energy to tackle what may not be going according to plan.

It is also good practice that you take the time to ask yourself what was I not able to accomplish and why? This is a deep question that allows you to see any patterns or themes that may emerge. Are there some things that you are putting off or avoiding? Do you feel the time is not right to be tackling that particular item? How can you re arrange your priorities to cater for it?

Some of the questions that Christine Kane says you ask for your Sunday Summit are:

1. What three things could have made this week better? This question allows you to coach yourself and come up with better habits that can help you get back on track.
2. What is the one challenge you are facing? As you come to terms with the challenge before you, it becomes easier for you to coach yourself out of a state of overwhelm or hopelessness and come up with clear action steps of what you can do to overcome the challenge.

#3. Plan For The Week Ahead

After you have gained clarity from the past week, it is time to plan for the coming week. Keep in mind that the way you start the week sets the tone for the entire week. In order for you to win the week using the Sunday Summit, you need to take proactive measures at the beginning of the week. This will help you to attain your desires for the rest of the week.

Take time to pick out the outfits for the week. It is amazing how much time you can waste on this in the morning. I have shared how I learnt from a dear friend how to use themes for the week for example if its a blue week, I will get my blue bag and then pick outfits that coordinate with the bag. This ensures that I not only look put together but it also ensures that I wear all my clothes.

Another thing that is often forgotten but is important is to ensure that you clear your emails. It is no doubt that if you manage your emails effectively you can increase your productivity. Spend some time going through the emails you did not get to during the past week. It is a good thing if you start the week with inbox zero.

Some of the questions that Christine Kane says you ask for your Sunday Summit are:

1. Are there any un decided decisions on your plate? This question is good as it ensures that you do not carry over things from the past week. In the event that you are procrastinating on something, this question will help you to address that issue.
2. What is your one word theme for the week? I have shared how having a word for the year is a good thing and keeps you focused. The word you choose for the week maybe the same or it could be something that reminds you of your word for the year. It can also be a word to energize you like faith, resilience, delight etc. Please feel free to repeat a word especially if it brings you the results you want. The key is to ensure that the word anchors you to the intention you have set for the week.

#4. Organize Your Kitchen

No Sunday Summit is complete unless you have decided what food you will eat. Keep in mind that the main purpose of the Sunday Summit is to ensure that your week goes smoothly. I have shared how having an organized kitchen helps you save money in the long run. Taking time to come up with a meal plan for the week and then ensuring that the groceries needed for that week are bought will save you a lot of frustration.

It is also a good time to check what stock of supplies you have and plan how they will be used. I have discovered that the kitchen is a good place we can save money if we take the time to properly plan. The key is to ensure that you are involved. Sometimes when you leave everything to the house help they may not be as effective as you can.

#5. Sharpen The Saw

Keep in mind that in order for all the things we have listed above to happen, you have to enhance and preserve your greatest asset which is you. In order for you to be effective you need to be able to take care of yourself. According to Stephen Covey in his famous book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, taking time to sharpen the saw is a quadrant 2 activity. This in effect means although it is not urgent it is very important.

Covey urges us to sharpen the saw in four dimensions. The Physical Dimension relates to the body. We can renew our bodies through exercise, proper nutrition and managing our stress. The Social Dimension governs how we relate with other human beings. We can strengthen this dimension through acts of service, always being empathetic and looking for third alternatives. The Spiritual Dimension deals with matters of the soul. It requires that in order to be effective, you need to have a solid foundation and anchor from which you draw your principles and values. The final dimension is the Mental Dimension, it relates to the mind. We can renew this dimension through reading widely, journaling as well as visualizing and planning.

Finally,

Keep in mind that in order for you to win the week by using the Sunday Summit, you need to make each day of the week count. In order to do this, having a clear definition of what success means to you is paramount. In addition, remember that whereas we measure time in minutes, our lives are measured by the moments we experience. It follows therefore that we need to treasure experiences that we create with those we love. Let us also always call to mind the fact that we can all accomplish what we desire if we keep at it and not give up after all, we are products of the decisions we make.

Rosette is a Leadership and Productivity Coach she is also a Certified DISC Trainer with the John Maxwell Team. She Co founded The Africa Women Leadership Summit which brings together women in leadership and helps them sharpen and grow their leadership.

She helps her clients live a Simple, Productive and Contented life. She has qualifications in Law, Business Administration and Human Resource Management and Development. You can book a complimentary session with her HERE.