“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”  

This quote is sometimes attributed to Abraham Lincoln, sometimes to an anonymous woodsman. Lincoln needed to lead a nation. The woodsman needed to conquer the wilderness for survival.

You may not be the leader of a country or fighting the elements day-to-day, but you do have your own challenges that are equally as real and important – and proper preparation is crucial if you want to use your time and resources efficiently.

I learned this lesson during my 12 year career at Showtime as I found myself getting buried in my work to-do list as soon as I came into the office on Mondays, and then neglected my personal to-do’s because I didn’t properly connect to them and prioritize them before the week began.  As a result, things that were important to me (including ideas I fantasized about) were pushed, forgotten, or abandoned, and I never felt there was enough time.  Can you relate?

Once I realized the importance of setting clear priorities for the week on Sunday nights (pertaining to work, health, fun, self-care, relationships, and my side passions), I was able to schedule them into my calendar and follow through with them (regardless of the circumstances that popped up throughout the week) – because I knew exactly what I wanted and needed to do.

I also felt a lot better about myself both during and at the end of my weeks because I was prioritizing and taking action on what actually mattered to me vs. getting distracted by the noise.

I wanted to share this with you because juggling an enormous amount of desires & responsibilities, time management, and feeling stress going into a new week is something that’s REAL for all of us (and why I created my Sunday Success Workshop Series – that helps people set themselves up for a strong week while proactively managing Sunday night stress/anxiety in a healthy way that doesn’t solely consist of numbing-out on snacks and Netflix)

Here is the 3 step approach that works beautifully for me going into a new week.

1) Reflect on and celebrate my previous week

What were my biggest wins this past week?

What did I learn and what lessons can I apply in the upcoming week?

2) Set top goals & priorities for the week

What is the smartest action I can take this week that will make everything in my life easier?

What unsupportive habits & behaviors will I not do this week, and/or what new habits/activities will I try out?

What advice would I give my best friend if they were looking for those same results?

3) Practice gratitude

What am I grateful for and why?

…

By taking some quality time for yourself on Sundays to align with where you’re at, where you want to go, and who you want to be can make all the difference.  So what are you waiting for? Go sharpen your axe!

Much love!

Mark