Strategic Sunday: Weekly Debrief – What Worked, What Didn’t, What’s Next?

Start your week with purpose. A Strategic Sunday begins with reflection and alignment, setting the stage for success!

The Weekly Debrief: The 20-Minute Sunday Habit That Can Transform Your Week!

Ever ended a week wondering, “What did I even accomplish?”
You were busy every day, but your to‑do list is still long, your goals feel fuzzy, and Monday already looks chaotic.

That’s where a Weekly Debrief comes in—a simple Sunday ritual to reflect, reset, and realign before the week begins. Highly productive people don’t leave their weeks to chance; they review what worked, what didn’t, and what’s next so their time matches their priorities.

In this Strategic Sunday post, you’ll learn a practical, repeatable Weekly Debrief you can do in 20 minutes or less.

A Real-Life Scenario: Two Very Different Mondays

Imagine two versions of you.

Version A – Reactive You
You crash into Monday. Your inbox is overflowing. Your calendar feels random. You jump from task to task, reacting to whatever seems most urgent. By Wednesday, you’re exhausted and behind. By Friday, you’re asking yourself, “Where did the week go?”

Version B – Strategic You
Sunday evening, you take 20 minutes to do a Weekly Debrief. You look at your past week, notice what actually moved the needle, identify what drained you, and decide your top priorities for next week. When Monday arrives, you already know:

• What matters most this week

• What you’re not doing

• When your key tasks are happening

Same job. Same responsibilities. The difference? You’re intentional instead of reactive.

The Weekly Debrief is how you become Version B.

📖 A Quote to Ground the Practice

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates

You could adapt that for productivity:

The unexamined week is a repeated mistake!

If that idea resonates with you, this short video is a powerful companion to today’s Strategic Sunday. It breaks down 5 things highly productive people do every Sunday to reset, refocus, and get ahead—perfect context before you build your own Weekly Debrief ritual.

Great Stuff! You just saw how top performers use Sunday as a launchpad, not an afterthought.

What Is a Weekly Debrief?

A Weekly Debrief is a short, structured reflection you do once a week—ideally on Sunday—to answer three simple questions:

1. What worked?

2. What didn’t?

3. What’s next?

It’s not about judging yourself; it’s about collecting information so you can make smarter decisions for the upcoming week.

Think of it as:

• A post-game review of your week

• A strategy session for the next seven days

• A moment to realign your actions with your values and goals

Highly productive people use Sundays not just to plan tasks, but to reflect on results. They don’t ask, “What do I have to do?” They ask, “What actually matters next?”

Breaking Down the Core Concept

Let’s unpack each part of the Weekly Debrief.

1. What Worked?

Here you capture your wins and bright spots:

• What did you accomplish that you’re proud of?

• Where did you follow through on your commitments?

• What habits or systems made things easier?

This matters because:

• It reinforces positive behavior

• It builds momentum and confidence

• It shows you what to keep doing—or do more of

2. What Didn’t?

This is where you honestly, but kindly, review:

• What fell through the cracks?

• Where did you procrastinate or avoid?

• What felt chaotic, rushed, or draining?

The goal isn’t to beat yourself up. It’s to identify:

• Broken systems

• Unrealistic expectations

• Recurring friction points you can smooth out

3. What’s Next?

Now you translate insights into aligned action:

• What are your top 3 priorities for next week?

• What can you eliminate, delegate, or delay?

• What commitments need clearer boundaries or better planning?

Here’s where you move from reflection to strategy. Instead of carrying everything forward, you choose deliberately what gets your time and energy.

Your dedicated time for clarity. The Weekly Debrief helps you review, learn, and plan your next steps with intention.

How to Do a Weekly Debrief (Step-by-Step)

You can complete this whole process in about 20 minutes. Grab your calendar, your task manager or notebook, and a quiet moment on Sunday.

Step 1: Review Your Past Week (5–7 minutes)

Look at:

• Your calendar (meetings, events, appointments)

• Your task list or notes

• Any goals or intentions you set last Sunday

Ask yourself:

• What did I complete that moved me closer to my goals?

• What moments felt energizing or fulfilling?

• Where did I get stuck, stressed, or overwhelmed?

Write down 3–5 bullet points under each heading:

• “What worked this week…”

• “What didn’t work this week…”

Keep it short and honest.

Step 2: Extract Lessons (5 minutes)

Now turn reflection into insight:

• Why did those things work? (Clear priorities, good sleep, fewer meetings, time blocking, etc.)

• Why didn’t other things work? (Overcommitted, poor boundaries, unclear tasks, distractions, etc.)

Then answer:

• What will I do differently next week based on this?

This could be as simple as:

• “No meetings before 10am on deep work days.”

• “Batch email into two sessions instead of checking constantly.”

• “Prepare tomorrow’s top 3 tasks before shutting down for the day.”

Step 3: Design Your “What’s Next” (8–10 minutes)

Now, intentionally shape the upcoming week.

1. Define your Big 3 for the week

   • What three outcomes would make this week a win, even if nothing else got done?

   • Make them specific and realistic.

2. Pre-schedule what matters

   • Block time on your calendar for your Big 3 outcomes.

   • Protect these blocks like appointments with your future self.

3. Eliminate or reduce what doesn’t matter

   • Cancel or reschedule low‑value commitments where possible.

   • Decide now what you won’t do this week.

4. Add one small personal priority
   Productivity isn’t just work. Add one thing for you:

   • A workout

   • A reading session

   • A coffee with a friend

   • An hour for a hobby

This keeps your week aligned with your broader life, not just your job.

Even five minutes can transform your week. Jot down your top priority and anchor your intentions for immediate impact.

⏱️A 5-Minute Action Plan You Can Do Right Now

If you only have five minutes today, start here. Open a notes app or grab a notebook and write these prompts:

1. Set a 5-minute timer.

2. Answer these three questions, in one or two sentences each:

   • What worked this week?

   • What didn’t work this week?

   • What’s one thing I’ll do differently next week?

3. Then write:

   • My #1 priority for next week is… (one clear outcome)

4. Put a time on your calendar next Sunday labeled:

   • “Weekly Debrief – What worked, what didn’t, what’s next”

That’s it. You’ve now:

• Reflected on your current week

• Set a clear priority for next week

• Created a recurring Weekly Debrief habit anchor

Small, consistent reflection beats massive, inconsistent planning.

Short FAQ: The Weekly Debrief, Answered

1. When is the best time to do a Weekly Debrief?
Ideally, Sunday afternoon or evening, when you have enough perspective on the week that just ended and enough calm to think ahead. But the “best” time is the one you’ll actually stick to. Some people prefer Friday before logging off so they truly disconnect over the weekend.

2. How long should a Weekly Debrief take?
You can do a meaningful debrief in 10–20 minutes. Start small:

• 5 minutes for “What worked / What didn’t”

• 5–10 minutes for “What’s next” and calendar blocking

Over time, the process speeds up because you’re revisiting the same simple questions each week.

3. What if my week was a mess and I don’t want to review it?
That’s exactly when a Weekly Debrief is most valuable. You’re not grading yourself; you’re gathering data. Messy weeks reveal:

• Overcommitments

• Broken systems

• Misaligned priorities

Instead of thinking, “I failed,” ask, “What is this week trying to teach me?” Then decide one small change to test next week.

Step into your week with confidence and clarity. Every Sunday is an opportunity to align your actions with your aspirations.

Video Recap: From Sunday Habits to Weekly Debrief

If you watched the video on “5 Things Highly Productive People Do Every Sunday That Most Others Don’t,” you saw how top performers use Sunday as a launchpad, not an afterthought.

Your Weekly Debrief is how you bring that same intentionality into your own life. The video gives you the mindset and examples; this framework gives you the weekly script:

• Look back: What worked and what didn’t?

• Look ahead: What truly matters next week?

• Lock it in: When will those priorities actually happen?

Use this debrief right after watching the video, and your Sunday stops being a vague reset—and becomes a strategic advantage.

Bringing It All Together

A strategic week doesn’t start Monday morning—it starts with a thoughtful Sunday.

By asking three simple questions:

1. What worked?

2. What didn’t?

3. What’s next?

…you step out of autopilot and into intentional living. Your time, energy, and attention start matching what truly matters to you.

This Sunday, give yourself 20 minutes for a Weekly Debrief. Your future self—calmer, clearer, and more focused—will definately thank you!

Pay It Forward! 🚀
~Brett
TheMorningMotivator.com · CompleteBusinessFitness.com

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