Man, I remember this one time, maybe a few years back, when my work life felt like a runaway train. Every Sunday night, I’d get this knot in my stomach just thinking about the week ahead. Deadlines piling up, emails overflowing, meetings for days. I’d walk into Monday morning already feeling wiped out, just playing catch-up from the get-go. It wasn’t just busy; it was chaotic. I felt like I was constantly reacting, never really in control. It was exhausting, honestly, and I knew something had to give.
I distinctly remember one particular project, it was a massive client pitch, like, the biggest one that year, and I just totally bombed the preparation. I mean, I thought I was ready, but I was scattered. My notes were a mess, I hadn’t really thought through all the potential questions, and my presentation felt… clunky. The whole thing just felt rushed and sloppy. We didn’t get the deal, and I carried that heavy feeling for weeks. It hit me then, really hard, that just ‘showing up’ wasn’t gonna cut it anymore. I needed an actual system, a way to really get my head in the game before the game even started. That’s when I started piecing together what I now call my “get ready now” routine.
My “Get Ready Now” Routine: How I Wrestle That Week Ahead
First thing I started doing, usually late Sunday afternoon, was what I call the “Brain Dump and Clear Out”. No tech involved, just a pen and paper. I’d sit down and just write out every single thing floating in my head about the upcoming week. Every task, every nagging thought, every little worry. It’s like emptying a junk drawer. Just get it all out. Then, I’d take maybe 15 minutes to actually clean up my workspace. Wiping down the desk, tidying up papers, making sure my monitor was clean. A clear space helps clear the mind, you know? It’s simple, but it’s a non-negotiable step now. It makes a huge difference for me, just starting fresh with a clean slate.
After the brain dump, I moved onto “The Deep Dive into What’s Coming.” This meant actually opening my calendar and my project management tools, pulling up everything relevant. I’d go meeting by meeting, project by project. I’d ask myself: What’s the goal for this? What do I need to bring? Who am I meeting with? Are there any reports I need to quickly skim? I wouldn’t go full-on deep work here, but rather a strategic overview. I also started proactively looking for potential curveballs. Are there any known issues with that client? Is that team member usually late with their part? Just trying to anticipate where things might go sideways, so I wasn’t surprised later. This helped me mentally brace myself.
Then came the heavy lifting part, which I call “The Detailed Battle Plan.” This is where I’d translate all that info into an actionable list. And not just any list. I started using a simple bullet journal for this. I categorize things:
- Must-Dos: The absolute critical stuff that absolutely cannot wait or fail.
- Should-Dos: Important tasks that keep projects moving forward.
- Could-Dos: Things that would be good to get done if time allows, but aren’t urgent.
I also started blocking out time slots in my digital calendar for these tasks. Not just for meetings, but for actual focused work. Like, “10 AM to 11 AM: Draft report for Project X.” It felt a bit rigid at first, but it completely changed how I approached my day. No more just drifting from one thing to the next. I knew what I was supposed to be doing and when.
Another crucial step became “Skill Sharpening and Rehearsal.” For me, this often involved just quickly reviewing some key presentation slides or re-reading a complex document I’d be discussing. If I knew I had a tricky conversation coming up, I’d sometimes even practice what I was going to say, just out loud to myself, or sometimes even record it and listen back. Sounds a bit goofy, right? But man, it builds confidence. I remember once I had a huge negotiation, and I spent about 20 minutes on Saturday running through different scenarios in my head, even sketching out responses on a notepad. Walking into that meeting, I felt so much more prepared and less flustered. It’s like an athlete warming up, you just gotta get those muscles ready.
Finally, and this one is probably the most important for keeping me sane, is “Mental Fortification and Self-Care.” I realized all this preparation would be useless if I was burned out before Tuesday. So, my Sunday ritual now includes something purely for me. Sometimes it’s a long walk, sometimes it’s just reading a book for a solid hour with no distractions, or cooking a nice meal. No work talk, no social media scrolling. Just disconnecting and recharging. I also make sure I get a good night’s sleep Sunday night. All this focused prep can make you feel a bit wired, so deliberately winding down became essential. It’s about setting myself up to hit the ground running, but from a place of calm, not frantic energy.
Looking back, that process, that intentional “getting ready now,” fundamentally shifted how I operate. That big client pitch I messed up? That pushed me to create this whole thing. And trust me, it works. I’ve landed far more deals since then, navigated way more intense weeks, and I don’t dread Sundays anymore. It’s not about being perfect, but about being proactive. It’s about taking the reins on your week instead of letting it drag you along. The peace of mind alone is worth all the planning, every single time.
