Article Back to work: our tips to make your ideal work week a reality

Hands up all those who see the end of summer as the start of a new year ✋

Move over, January. September somehow feels like a better time to turn over a new leaf.

If it’s been summertime where you are, hopefully you’ve been able to take some time off over the past few months, or at least take things a little easier.

After all, taking life at a slower pace is often inevitable when things heat up - your brain slows down and everyone and their dog seems to be on holiday.

Now September’s here, though, things are now beginning to cool off, our brains are kicking back into action.

The end of 2022 is in sight, and we don’t know about you, but we always get super motivated at this time of year.

With only a few months to go, we’re always keen to make sure we’ve made good progress towards the goals for the year we set way back in January.

And to do that, we need to be working at our best, firing on all cylinders.

Luckily, a nice relaxed summer generally means we’ve got plenty of energy to put into our businesses.

We just need to make sure we’re channelling that energy properly, with a routine that helps us thrive.

So this month’s blog post is all about how to get yourself back into a sustainable routine that will see you right through until the end of the year, and maybe even beyond.

Take the time to set out an action plan

Set aside some time during a work day to think about what you want to achieve between now and the end of the year.

If you set 2022 goals, look back at them to see what progress you’ve made towards them.

Think about whether they’re still relevant and you want to stick to them for the next few months, or if your priorities have changed.

Think about what you want to have achieved within the next few months, and then break that down roughly into what you’ll do in September, October, and so on and so forth.

Just make sure you don’t bite off more than you can chew, because you’ll only end up feeling overwhelmed and making no progress at all.

Make your schedule work for you

Don’t feel pressure to stick to a ‘standard’ work week if that doesn’t work for you.

If you find a 9-5 style week helps you focus and switch off in the evenings, that’s great.

But perhaps you can’t keep your eyes open until 11 in the morning and need a leisurely start. Or perhaps you prefer to start early and finish early.

Well, if that’s the case, then that’s exactly what you should do.

Always remember that, realistically, there are only so many hours of quality, creative client work you can do in a day.

And there’s no need to be chained to your laptop just because you feel guilty if you’re not, even if you’re not actually achieving anything.

Organise your schedule on your terms, and never feel like you have to justify it to anyone.

Consider setting themes for each day

Now you’ve got your goals in mind and are clear about how to play to your strengths, it’s time to get a plan down on paper.

Decide what you want your ideal work week to look like.

This doesn’t work for everyone, but you could consider dividing your days up by theme.

For example, you could decide that you’ll spend the same day or morning every week on your marketing and admin.

That can be helpful if you want to do things like regularly writing and posting a blog. You know, the kind of jobs that always get pushed to the bottom of your to-do list when you’ve got lots of client work.

And don’t forget to factor in all the things that will help you maintain a healthy balance in your life.

If you want to be able to perform at your best consistently then make sure you’re taking them as seriously as you take your work. Your mental and physical health are so precious, so make time for all the activities that help keep you well, like exercise and plenty of fresh air.

This is particularly important as the winter approaches, as it might well be dark by the time you’ve finished work unless you make a point of getting out and about whilst it’s light.

Be flexible

Having a plan is great, so try and stick to it as much as you can. But nothing should be written in stone.

You’re your own boss, so be a good one. Adapt your schedule around things that come up.

Grab any opportunities that come your way, both personal and professional, with both hands.

And make a point of trying to listen to your body. If you’re particularly tired, not well or just not in the right headspace, don’t just keep plowing on through just because it’s Wednesday morning.

You’ll never produce your best work if feeling off, so take a break or even take the whole day off.

Track your time

If you want to get into a better routine, it’s so important to know exactly where your time is going.

Use a tool like RescueTime or Toggl to keep track of how much time you’re spending on what, including both client work and the work you do on your business.

Of course, if you’re an LSP.expert user then don’t forget to track your time for each and every job.

That way the reports that break down how you spend your time, which can be such a useful insight into your business, will be as accurate as possible.

Check in with your goals

Whether it’s on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis, check in with your goals to make sure you’re heading in the right direction.

Be honest with yourself about whether your routine is working for you or whether it could use a little tweaking.

And don’t forget to celebrate any small wins to keep yourself motivated.

That’ll encourage you to stick to your schedule and keep making progress in your own way, week in, week out.

Get your week organised and track your time at the click of a button with the help of LSP.expert.

If you’re giving a new routine a go, then why not try a new tool while you’re at it? It could revolutionise the way you run your business.

Try our 30-day free trial on for size to see what LSP.expert could do for you.