My Ideal Week Framework: A Guide To Better Days

📸 My Ideal Week (2024 edition)

When you have the privilege of a flexible schedule, I think it’s worth spending some time designing your ideal day and week.

I didn’t come up with this idea myself; I first heard about it from Ali Abdaal in a YouTube video. But I find the concept powerful and empowering.

I understand that not everyone has the freedom to do this, but I think everyone should at least consider what their ideal schedule would look like and think about what small changes could bring them closer to it.

For this exercise, be very intentional and selfish. Don’t write down things based on what you “should” be doing or what’s expected of you.

List Your Essentials

Start with a simple step: list the things you need, want, or would like to do in a typical day. Don’t worry about details yet.

For me, these are non-negotiables:

• 🏋️ I want to move my body (going to the gym, doing yoga, or going for a walk).

• 🧘 I want to meditate.

• 📖 I want to read.

• 🎬 I want some leisure time (watching YouTube, a movie, going for a swim—whatever’s available and suits my mood).

• 🍽️ I need to eat (lunch and dinner—I’m not a breakfast guy).

• 💻 I want two blocks of time to work.

• 💑 I want quality time with my wife.

Map Your Ideal Schedule

Next, ask yourself, “If I could do what I want, when I want, how would I organize my time?” We’re all different—some are early birds, some are night owls. There’s no one-size-fits-all (despite what productivity gurus might say).

In my case, I like to own my mornings. After trying many schedules over the years, I’m happiest with a “slow” morning for myself, work in the afternoon, a break, and then another work session at night. I prefer to enjoy the daytime and the sun, rather than being stuck indoors 9-6 and then having my free time only after dark.

Create an Ideal Week Template

Once you’ve envisioned your ideal day, open your favorite calendar app and create a new calendar called “Ideal Week.” Start creating blocks for each activity, based on your personal rhythm. Now, you have a template to help you structure your actual week and gradually work toward your ideal schedule.

📝 Quick note: Do I always stick to my schedule? Of course not—I’m not a machine! The aim is simply to design an intentional framework. Also, this ‘ideal week’ will evolve over time based on personal and professional changes. I hope that one day I won’t need to work as much, but for now, it genuinely brings me joy.

Over time, work to bring your “real” week closer to this ideal, step by step. Set boundaries for “me time” or discuss possible schedule changes at work.

🎯 The goal of this exercise is to regain control over your days and, ultimately, your life. Too often, the world decides our schedules for us, and we end up moving through life on autopilot. By taking the driver’s seat, we become more intentional with our time—the one resource that’s truly limited.

What about you? If you could design your ideal week, what would it look like? Share your ideal schedule in the comments—I’d love to hear your ideas!