The practice of a weekly review

One common sensation many experience is cognitive overwhelm from juggling multiple projects simultaneously or contemplating the myriad possibilities of life—things we're not doing, haven't done, or know we'll never do. As highlighted by this Atlantic article, most knowledge workers (those who primarily use their brains rather than their bodies for work) feel a sense of overwhelm.

There are philosophical mindset shifts that can help quiet the feeling of existential drowning (top-down approaches), as well as practical actions to move out of your mind and into what's within your control right now (bottom-up approaches).

One practical action, popularized by David Allen in "Getting Things Done" (GTD), is the weekly review. In a recent conversation between David Allen and Greg McKeown, they discuss the weekly review practice (around minute 16).

The purpose of a weekly review is to keep your organization system current. This system helps you trust that you have a record of all your projects and tasks—past, present, and future. By offloading ideas and mental post-it notes, you can experience a significant sense of liberation and enhance your ability to focus on the task at hand.

An uncluttered mind is an objectively better state of being. You know what you're doing and why, confident that you'll return to other possible endeavors when the time is right.

A weekly review, comprising reflection and planning phases, helps you define the few endeavors you'll pursue in the week ahead. It takes into account all possibilities while incorporating insights from the previous week.

I consider the weekly review a foundational aspect of my work. It's not the work itself, but a ritual that keeps me grounded and aware of what's happening in my life. I view it as a personal hygiene practice—like a Wu-Wei master sharpening tools and organizing his workshop. This process is ongoing and infinite in nature.

I wrote about the weekly review process in this essay some years ago. I still use the same Notion template mentioned there, though I've updated it as my experiences and circumstances have evolved. I will be writing and making a video about it soon.