As a refresher, each monthly section of The Fractal Planner has five weekly, undated spreads. I write the month in at the top. Then I write in the days of the week and the dates.
It's important to know that there are only six columns on The Week pages. I usually combine Saturday and Sunday in one column. However sometimes, I like to start the week on a Sunday, so I combine Sunday/Monday into one column. Since I take my weekends off, both of those options work well for me. You'll want to experiment to see what works best for you.
Section 1: Three Daily Targets
You'll see the Star, Circle, and Square in the top row of The Week. Not only is it a reminder of your Priority Targets, it also serves as a reminder to focus on targets in order of importance when possible.
Tip: In the space below the square, sometimes I like to set a time goal for completing the three targets listed there. It gamifies it for me, adding some fun, and just the tiniest bit of pressure.
It's important to remember that accomplishing three priority-related targets in one day can go a long way toward helping you achieve your Primary Targets. So, three may seem like a small number, but over time, great things will happen.
Section 2: Time-Specific Obligations
The calendar icon starts a new section for listing appointments and obligations. Below that, the target icon begins an area for reminders and targets that are not time-bound.
These sections are purposely kept small by design. It reminds me to keep the day simple by focusing only on what will move me toward my Primary Targets.
Naturally, these sections can be used however you'd like. That's part of the flexibility of the system.
Section 3: Anti-Fragile Targets
Each week I find there are between one and three different targets, or tasks, that I keep putting off. When I recognize one of those targets, I write it into the anti-fragile section. It tells me I'm viewing a target as menacing and that I need to remind it—and myself—who's boss. As a journaler, I also think about the emotional blockage that's holding me hostage. It seems silly, but it works.
Section 4: The Daily ABCs
The is a celebratory section. It focuses me on two things: what I've (A) accomplished today and any (B) breakthroughs I've had. For example, perhaps I completed my three daily targets. That's worth (C) celebrating. Or, perhaps, I tackled the day's anti-fragile target, and better yet, recognized what the hold up was. Again, that's worth celebrating.
But how did you celebrate? Did you? I'll write in how I celebrated or how I plan to. I love a small reward. Sometimes, that reward is as simple as high-fiving myself in the mirror. :)
In a day, things don't always go the way I want. The ABCs help focus me on the good. On a down day, I go back and review previous ABCs to remind myself of what I'm capable of accomplishing.
The approach may seem a little lopsided, but The Week is reserved for focusing on only good things. The reflection page after each week and month are for the purpose of breaking down what could be better. I'll talk about those in an upcoming post.
Section 5: Gratitude
In a previous post, I talked about HEPGECL, or HEPs, for short. This final section is based on that gratitude exercise. So, at the end of each day, there's a question for appreciating something good. As you can tell, I take seriously keeping my outlook positive. Without a positive outlook, I find it difficult to move in the direction of my Priority Targets.
But Do What You Want…
Here’s proof you can use any feature in the Fractal Planner any way you want. Here are two examples from
.In Summary
The Fractal Planner takes the year a quarter at a time; the quarter, a month at a time; and the month, a week at a time. I chunk it down just like that.
And when it comes down to it, I do my best to take life a day at a time, and The Week page is a reflection of that. I hope you find it to be as helpful an approach as I have. I look forward to hearing from you.
R. Maurice Ledesma
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