Start Your Monday Like a CEO: A Weekly Planning Routine That Actually Works

For a lot of business owners, Monday is just a laundry list of problems to solve and emails to answer. You sit down with a full cup of coffee, and before you even take the first sip, your day’s been hijacked.

But if you want to lead your week instead of chasing it, you need to start Monday with intention. CEOs don’t just roll in and “see what happens.” They set the tone, choose the priorities, and decide how the week will go before anyone else gets a say. You can do the same.

Here’s the routine I swear by.

1. Check Your Big Goals First

Before touching your inbox, look at your bigger picture. What’s the most important thing you’re working toward this month or quarter? Keep that front and centre so you don’t waste your energy on busywork.

2. Empty Your Brain

Get every single to-do out of your head. Personal, business, household; it all matters because it all takes space in your brain. Once it’s on paper, you can actually see what’s worth doing this week.

3. Pick Your Big Three

Decide on three key priorities for the week. These aren’t just tasks; they’re the things that will actually move the needle in your business. If you get these done, you’ll feel like the week was a win.

4. Time-Block the Big Stuff

Put those priorities on your calendar first. Treat them like appointments you can’t cancel. Then add the smaller things around them.

5. Plan for Easy Wins

Start the week with one or two quick wins to build momentum. It could be a task that’s been bugging you or something you can finish in under an hour.

6. Guard Your Energy

Don’t pack your calendar to the brim. Give yourself time to think, reset, and deal with the curveballs that always come.

When you start Monday like this, you stop letting the week happen to you. You set the pace. You decide what gets your attention. And that’s when things start to run smoother, not just in your business, but at home too.

weekly planning routine, productivity tips for entrepreneurs, CEO mindset, business planning tips, Monday planning habits, time management