The Real Reason Your Weeks Feel Like a Blur (Plus How to Fix It)
I have a confession. For years, I started every Monday the exact same way, and it was slowly killing my soul.
If you’re anything like I used to be, you probably:
Open your calendar and immediately regret your life choices.
Pretend you didn’t see that 8:30am meeting magically appear overnight.
Open Instagram and scroll until someone posts a "Monday Motivation" quote that actually makes you want to scream into a pillow.
Sound familiar?
And Fridays? Don't even get me started.
Fridays used to be a dramatic laptop slam followed by a hasty “I’ll just finish this over the weekend” promise whispered to no one in particular.
And that version of me? She was always exhausted. Always behind. Always convinced that next week was when she’d finally “catch up.”
Spoiler alert: she never did. Next week me still always felt behind.
The Weekly Hamster Wheel (And Why We Stay On It)
When you're constantly operating in overdrive (think managing back-to-back meetings and replying to emails like your life depends on it) it’s easy to lose the plot.
You forget what you're working toward because all you can focus on is getting through.
Your weeks become a blur of tasks completed and fires extinguished, but never that satisfying feeling of actually moving forward.
The thing is, you don't need a week-long digital detox or a complete career change to feel better about your Monday mornings.
You just need what I call my Weekly Bookend Method, a way to start and end your week with excitement and accomplishment instead of dread and anxiety.
My Simple Weekly Bookend Method
After years of Sunday Scaries and Friday Burnout, I developed this stupidly simple practice. It takes maybe 10 minutes total per week, but it's changed how I experience my entire work life.
MONDAY: Start With Excitement (Yes, Really)
Before I open my inbox, before I dive into meetings, before I let the whirlwind consume me, I ask myself one question:
"What am I actually excited about this week?"
Even if the answer is “leaving work at 5pm and watching Love Island in sweats”...hey, that counts.
But to go deeper, I run through three quick prompts to find things I'm genuinely looking forward to:
1. How am I moving closer to something I care about? Maybe I'm finally hitting "send" on that promotion conversation I've been avoiding, posting a LinkedIn article that's been sitting in my drafts, or booking that doctor’s appointment I keep rescheduling. Progress is progress.
2. What's one task I'll feel amazing crossing off my list? Not everything is glamorous. But finishing that expense report, creating that presentation template, or having that overdue uncomfortable conversation? Future Me is already doing a happy dance that it’s done.
3. How am I supporting myself this week? Did I block out Thursday evening for a guilt-free Target shopping spree? Am I meeting my friend for overpriced lattes and life updates? These aren't "nice-to-haves", they're necessities, especially when you're used to putting everyone else first.
After thinking through what to look forward to, I write it down. There's something powerful about putting excitement into words that makes the whole week feel more intentional.
FRIDAY: End With a Celebration (Even When It’s Been a Week)
By Friday, I'm usually a little frayed around the edges. Tired. Questioning whether I was really meant to spend 37% of my life on conference calls discussing things that could've been emails...
That's why I end the week with a celebration ritual: a few minutes to acknowledge what actually went well.
Before I power down, I think about three things I'm proud of:
1. What did I accomplish that I set out to do? Maybe I crushed that client presentation I was nervous about. Perhaps I didn't reorganize my entire filing system like I planned, but I did clear out my desktop screenshots folder (you know the one). Or maybe I just managed to eat lunch away from my desk twice this week…honestly, that's a win.
2. What surprised me in a good way? I voiced my opinion in a meeting instead of nodding along quietly. A colleague complimented me out of nowhere. I cracked a problem faster than I thought possible. Or I walked out of the office before 7pm without guilt. Cue internal victory dance.
3. What lesson do I want to carry into next week? This isn't about beating myself up for what didn't happen. It's about compassionately noticing where I can grow. Did I overcommit again? Skip lunch too many times? Let my inbox eat half my day? Okay, noted. How can I set things up differently next week?
This ritual isn’t about pretending every week was perfect, it's about training myself to notice the good stuff that actually happened instead of only seeing what didn't get done
Why This Works (Even When Life Is Still Kinda Messy)
Look, I still have stressful weeks. I still feel that pit in my stomach when Slack starts pinging me at 7am. I still worry I’m not doing enough (because perfectionism is real…)
But starting my week with excitement and ending it with celebration gives me something burnout never did: perspective.
It reminds me I’m not just running on a hamster wheel. I’m making progress. I’m learning. I'm showing up for myself and my goals. Every week.
Your Turn: Try This Next Week
Set a 5-minute timer on Monday morning and answer this:
What are 3 things you’re excited about this week?
Then on Friday afternoon, take 5 more minutes:
What did you accomplish?
What are you proud of this week?
What lesson do you want to take into next week?
The Real Truth
You don't need a complete life overhaul to feel better about your week. You just need a few minutes to check in with yourself, to remember that your weeks aren't just something that happen to you.
Start with excitement. End with celebration. And remember: you're doing better than you think.
Bonus: Make This Your Daily Practice (Not Just Weekly)
Here's where things get really good: what if you could capture this same energy every single day?
While my Weekly Bookend Method gives you those crucial start-and-end-of-week touchpoints, the Five Minute Journal by Intelligent Change takes this intention-setting and celebration practice and weaves it into your daily routine, without adding another overwhelming task to your plate.
Every morning, you spend just 5 minutes on:
3 things you're grateful for (even if it's just "my coffee is hot and my commute wasn't terrible")
3 things that would make today great (could be as simple as "a productive team meeting" or "having that difficult conversation go smoothly")
A daily affirmation (your little pep talk to start the day)
Every evening, take another 5 minutes for:
3 highlights from your day (celebrating those small wins we usually forget)
What you learned (the growth mindset piece that keeps you moving forward)
Sound familiar? It's similar to my weekly practice, but in bite-sized daily doses.
The magic happens when you start seeing patterns. Maybe you're consistently grateful for your morning walks, which reminds you to protect that time. Maybe your "make today great" list is always work-focused, signaling you need more personal joy. Maybe your daily highlights reveal you're prouder of small connections with colleagues than you realized.
It's like having a gentle accountability partner that helps you notice the good stuff, especially on those days when everything feels like a dumpster fire and you're convinced you accomplished nothing.
The best part? Using the journal literally takes five minutes. Even your most packed day has five minutes for this kind of self-check-in.
No fancy apps, no complicated systems, just a simple way to bookend your days with intention instead of letting them blur into an endless cycle of doing without noticing.
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About Me
Hi, I’m Kara. I’m a former workaholic turned time-management expert. I help women stressed out in their 9-5 get more done, in less time, so they can get back in the driver’s seat and start living a life they love.
