How to do a Weekly Review in Under an Hour

Leo Babauta argues that the Weekly Review can fit into under an hour, or even 30 minutes, if daily inbox processing and next-action review are already part of the routine. He says the time savings come from clearing the inbox first, reducing distractions, and moving through the review without interruption.

Reading notes

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• Daily inbox processing and daily review of next-action lists make the weekly review shorter, even if the habit has been neglected.
• Before the review, the inbox, including email, should be down to zero.
• A clear desk helps reduce distractions during the review.
• Email, blog readers, games, and other unnecessary distractions should be closed, and others should be told not to interrupt for an hour.
• A printed checklist for the weekly review and for the mind dump should be ready.
• The review should be done in focused mode, without letting distractions break concentration.
• When it is finished, Babauta recommends rewarding yourself.
• He links to a Weekly Review checklist from Davidco or MineZone wiki and to a Mind Sweep triggers list from 43 Folders.