Plan Your Week With Me: The Weekly Planning Matrix.

[@matthewandalice5989]

Thanks for this! I am an engineering consultant so my 'core work' *is* project work. I think I've managed to adopt to similar principles though by a slight reframing of 'core work' to 'business as usual operations'. Stuff like resource management, strategic stuff, etc. To be fair, I could consider this core work but in my sector, it's not a good idea to get the mind too far from actually delivering projects.

[@Carl_Pullein]

That's a good approach. Adjusting things to better accommodate how you work.

[@IbrahimBashir]

I really like how you have simplified the weekly planning. It is easy, straight forward and effective. I also like the fact that when moving to digital, it is not about filling up my calendar to have it all coloured up with tasks that are not achievable. I spent an entire weekend looking for this and found you via your Tiago Forte PARA.

[@Carl_Pullein]

Thank you, Ibrahim. I hope this has helped.

[@cossackx]

this is a great video. Can you make a part two showing us how you go from your analog written notes into your digital task manager? I would also love to see your thought process for categorization of your tasks, such as labels tags categories.

[@Carl_Pullein]

I've done quite a few videos on this in recent months. For labels: kzbin.info/www/bejne/foKcl6aDmbZ0f6csi=cwShkbk6D0djvlCY My core work are repeating tasks so they do not need to be moved to Todoist - I write them down as it sparks ideas for topics to write about.

[@heynicolettox]

I’ve been looking for an analog system and this one looks neat. I’ll definitely give it a try.

[@Carl_Pullein]

Glad to have been able to give some ideas. 🙂

[@Ashley-d1m]

Me too! Are we going to be digital all the way sooner than we think? 😮I ran from digital planning just recently and went to a ton of book! All the tech has been stressing me out and I felt so heavy

[@carlschulz1057]

Thank you for this and your other videos. For a very long time I have been following the advice of Steven Covey (7-Habits) and David Allen (GTD) with off and on success - but I perserve. I like your ideas around your analog approach to the planning matrix. I have a question (many probably) about the difference between The Core Work and Personal quadrants vs. the Project and Issues quadrant. It seems to me that all of my Projects and Issues are directly related to either Core Work or Personal - so I am not sure of the distinction. Also as I am retired I have not landed on what now constitutes "Core Work" - currently I volunteer on multiple Town Boards - so I am putting those items in there.

[@Carl_Pullein]

Hi Carl, Your work is the work you are "employed to do". My father is retired, and he considers his core work to be feeding my sister's horses and doing repair work around the stables. Your core work may be recurring work you do for the boards you are on. Your projects are likely linked to your core work in some way. The difference between projects and core work is that projects have an end date. There's a deadline. With core work, it's work you need to do consistently each week I hope that helps. .

[@carlschulz1057]

Thank you.

[@OlaAlex24]

Oh, wow! This weekly planning matrix is so cool! I wish I’d found this much earlier.

[@Carl_Pullein]

Enjoy doing your weekly planning this weekend. 🙂

[@garywilson4579]

My radar has gone nuts, opened my mind to all the ideas I have / plans I'd put one side etc - not planning all those for next week, but its great to bubble them up to the surface again! Thanks Carl, a new and improved weekly planning session for me :)

[@Carl_Pullein]

Ah, yes, the radar can go "nuts" some weeks. That's actually a good sign as it's your brain letting off steam (so to speak) and you can evaluate what needs to be done and when.

[@mkleng]

Carl, you are the GOAT

[@Carl_Pullein]

Hahaha thank you.

[@neo7779]

Congrats on the new Pen, great way to commemorate the book, and Happy Birthday.

[@Carl_Pullein]

Thank you, Neo. 🙂

[@davep6603]

Great video! I have two questions: 1. Where did you use the pencil vs the pen? 2. If you are going to transfer the paper plan to your digital system, why put the paper plan in a notebook? Thanks!

[@Carl_Pullein]

Hi Dave, I don't scan my weekly plans into my digital notes (although some people like to do that) I keep them in my Planning Notebook. The pencil is used to draw out the lines. (I learned to do that at school, and it's stuck with me ever since)

[@enicode]

Will def try it out. Do you consult with the various lists like “someday” or digital notes, projects, planners before you start on the weekly planning? Do you also do the retrospective of the previous week? If yes - any particular pattern you follow / questions ask yourself?

[@Carl_Pullein]

Not before I start. I want to clear my head first before I head into my various lists of things to do.

[@VladyslavZubko69]

Thank you Carl!

[@Carl_Pullein]

You're welcome.

[@TheRealJohnnyCash]

Carl, how do you decide what goes on your calendar vs being put into your task manager?

[@Carl_Pullein]

Anything that needs to happen at a specific time on a given day is an event. A meeting, a deadline or an appointment etc. They would be on my calendar. Anything that can be done at anytime (although perhaps on a specific day) is a task.

[@robertgodfrey7535]

Compare Filofax and Covey planners and binders? Thanks.

[@maikeru_pk]

Wooow, MB 149 😊 Congratulations, that's top 3 of f. pens.

[@maikeru_pk]

You have so big hands that it looks small and thin, but it's giant. And the nib... piece of Art. I'm 2 level earlier, I have my Duofold Centennial Big Red :) Next... who knows, maybe something Japanese with 21k nib ✒️

[@Carl_Pullein]

@@maikeru_pk Hahaha Yes, the Parker Duofold Big Red's also on my grail pen list. 🙂

[@mylifepart2]

i actually do a full month layout...and then go to the week - becoz i m a teacher so i need to be able to see the full month in one View...a week is good but its limiting...

[@erikolsen6790]

Hi Carl First of all, thanks for all your videos, courses etc., they are very inspiring and have help me a lot. Secondly, have you abandoned your "Weekly Objectives Plan" which you previous have promoted? BR, Erik Olsen

[@Carl_Pullein]

Hi Erik, I still have objectives for the week. This method slows me down and causes me to think better and deeper. (Plus, it's a lot more satisfying 🙂)

[@surreytrailgoat5469]

Great video as always Carl. Looking forward to reading your book! On a separate note what nib do you have on the 149? - fine or medium?. It is also something that I hope I have one day :-)

[@Carl_Pullein]

I got the fine nib. I don't have large handwriting and find the European fine nibs are perfect for my handwriting.

[@periteu]

I'm going to use Roam Research's new diagram feature in the daily notes section to create a weekly planning matrix. In my case, it will be a weekly planning conceptual map.

[@periteu]

Didnt like this

[@ronv0076]

Great video I prefer to use a pencil In my planning page

[@Carl_Pullein]

That works, too. 🙂

[@Maizeak]

how do u not miss tasks when the start of the month falls on a weird day of the week and u haven't checked your next month folders yet?

[@Carl_Pullein]

The last Saturday of every month is when I go through all my folders and move things around. I remember when I managed everything by project, that was when I was missing tasks all the time. LOL

[@Maizeak]

@@Carl_Pullein I may be being dull but im getting confused with like for example ill do the weekly planning and check the monthly folders next Saturday, but theres still some January left to go after that - making me worried about putting things in the wrong places etc

[@Carl_Pullein]

@@Maizeak If you are worried about missing something, there's no rule that says you cannot go through all you folders each week. If it helps you to feel more confident, check all folders. You will only be doing a skim anyway, so it should not add too much much time.

[@KatrinaT]

Imagine owning a pencil for 17 yrs... I go through pocket knives like they are disposable. I just can't keep track of them. I don't think I could be trusted with an expensive pencil.

[@Carl_Pullein]

Hahaha if I ever lost it, my wife would kill me LOL

[@robertgarvansnyder4665]

To paraphrase the late, great Mitch Hedberg, “I bought a $7 pen, because I’m always losing pens, and I got sick of not caring.”

[@Carl_Pullein]

@@robertgarvansnyder4665 Yes! you ar a little more careful with expensive pens LOL

[@daviddyer2607]

I have had my Mont Blanc mechanical pencil and ballpoint pen for 22 years.

[@sergiorodrigues6694]

Hi Carl Just one question..The things you put on your radar are somethig like those David Allen call "someday, maybe"?

[@Carl_Pullein]

Ooh, no, they are quite different. These are things that are happening--not things you may wish to do in the future. The only thing is there is nothing for you to do on them. Things like waiting for items, your vacation coming up in two weeks or so, or an important event for a family member.

[@hishamzobary]

Thank you ❤

[@Carl_Pullein]

You're welcome. Thank you for watching. 🙂