The Weekly Circle #14
Welcome to the fourteenth episode of The Weekly Circle! A free Circles in Time newsletter released every Sunday.
Hey everybody,
This week’s newsletter is slightly different from the usual format.
Some readers asked if I would share an overview of the recurring systems that make up my personal weekly circle. Initially, I was hesitant (it seemed too personal and private). Upon further consideration, though, I actually think it may be so helpful for some people, that I’m willing to take on the mild levels of discomfort that may come with sharing it.
Here are some of my thoughts on why sharing systems can be a valuable exercise:
Emulation can be a helpful starting point
One of my core beliefs is that because of the socially-driven, memetic nature of our minds— there are considerable gains to be realised through a more open and transparent approach towards personal development, learning and self-regulation systems.
Too often we hear about why we should be doing something, or what the outputs or outcomes were. We hear much less about the nuanced details around the systems that were in place, that lead to the desired outcomes.
We learn the ‘what’ and ‘why’, and are then expected to work out the ‘how’ ourselves. And sure, you can’t just copy and paste systems like ‘how-to recipes’. Everyone is different. We’re all samples of one. But by getting exposed to what worked for others, we have a starting point. A baseline. Material to work with. Sometimes that is all we need to get going.
Like a cobbler, fixing my own shoes
More personally, the exercise also acts as a public commitment device for me, and a public timestamp of my current weekly systems, which may become a helpful artefact when I look back on this in the future.
Some disclaimers:
Failure is inevitable
Like everyone else, I don’t always stick to my systems. I trip up and fall. I get distracted. Feel lazy or low energy. Overwhelmed and stressed. The point isn’t to avoid failure. Streaks inevitably get disrupted. Self-discipline is important, but so is self-compassion. When I fail, I try to reflect on the failure, in a kind and curious manner. I can then return to the practice with a lesson and lightness that allows me to keep going and makes failing in the future, a little less likely.A continuous work in progress
I see my systems as dynamic and evolving, rather than static and fixed. I experiment with at least one feature adjustment a week, so there is always some level of variation occurring. I’ll share an update in a few months times, to give you all a sense of the dynamics at play.Interactions with larger circles
My weekly systems circle in a consistent manner for most of the month, quarter and year. However, at those other timescales, there are systems that take preference, temporarily displacing the weekly circling systems in the process. The systems I discuss below are the ones present during the inactive phases of my monthly, quarterly and annual circles. Perhaps I’ll unpack the other systems in a future issue.
MY CURRENT WEEKLY CIRCLE
Here is a high-level overview of what my weekly circle currently looks like:
Monday - Wednesday | Deep Work Phase
For the first chunk of the week, my focus is on productivity, learning and development. I try to be disciplined, intensely structured and do my best to avoid distractions.
05:00 | Wake-up
Turn off phone alarm (then)
Make the bed and tidy room (then)
Pour and drink two glasses of water (then)
05:10 | Exercise (Physical Health)
Get dressed into active-wear (then)
Perform 3x body workout sets on my mat (then)
Put on running shoes, airpods and an audiobook (then)
Drink a glass of water with one teaspoon of Himalayan salt (then)
Take a potassium and magnesium electrolyte supplement (then)
Go for a short run around the neighbourhood (then)
Perform another 3x body workout sets on my mat (then)
Pour and drink one large glass of water
05:40 | Shower & Change
Shave (when necessary) (then)
Shower (warm, cold, warm rhythm) (then)
Change into comfortable work-wear (then)
Put in airpods (then)
Play monthly prime set, Blinkist or Audiobook
06:00 | Inner Work (Mental Health)
Make a cup of black coffee [starter step] (then)
Drink the cup of black coffee (while)
Reviewing monthly goals, missions, personal principles and values (then)
Wash up and tidy the kitchen (then)
Brush my teeth (then)
Meditate in quarter lotus on my yoga mat (then)
Write a reflective journal entry (then)
Input rating for each dimension of health (then)
Sketch out a relevant concept or idea in my sketchbook (then)
07:00 | Writing Session One (Work Health)
Open up my draft space (currently using Notion) (then)
Put on Spotify writing playlist (then)
Place my phone in the desk draw (then)
Close all other Chrome tabs besides the draft page (then)
Read notes from the previous writing session
Write or read writing material (est 45 minutes)
07:45 | Tea Break
Turn off the music and take out airpods (then)
Boil the kettle (then)
Make green or rooibos tea (then)
Drink green or rooibos tea (while)
Relaxing in the living room
08:00 | Writing Session Two (Work Health)
Put on Spotify writing playlist (then)
Place my phone in the desk draw (then)
Close all other Chrome tabs besides the draft page (then)
Write or read writing material (est 30 minutes) (then)
Write a note on current problems, where to focus next (then)
Stand up, breathe and stretch the body
08:40 | Reviewing Work Plan for the Day
Open up planning page in Notion [starter step] (then)
Open up calendar on Google (then)
Make a cup of black coffee (then)
Drink the cup of black coffee (while)
Review deep work tasks, urgent actions and meetings (then)
09:00 | Deep Work Session One
Put on Spotify deep work playlist [starter step] (then)
Place my phone in the desk draw (then)
Close all irrelevant Chrome tabs (then)
Set/review the input and output goals for session one (then)
Perform deep work (est 40 minutes) (then)
Write a note on current problems, where to focus next
09:45 | Tea Break
Turn off the music and take out airpods (then)
Stand up, breathe and stretch body (then)
Boil the kettle (then)
Make green or rooibos tea (then)
Drink green or rooibos tea (while)
Relaxing on the couch (then)
10:00 | Deep Work Session Two
Put on Spotify deep work playlist [starter step] (then)
Place my phone in the desk draw (then)
Close all irrelevant Chrome tabs (then)
Set/review the input and output goals for session one (then)
Perform deep work (est 40 minutes) (then)
Write a note on current problems, where to focus next
10:45 | Water Break
Turn off the music and take out airpods (then)
Stand up, breathe and stretch body (then)
Pour and drink two glasses of water (then)
Relaxing on the couch (then)
11:00 | Deep Work Session Three
Put on Spotify deep work playlist [starter step] (then)
Place my phone in the desk draw (then)
Close all irrelevant Chrome tabs (then)
Set/review the input and output goals for session one (then)
Perform deep work (est 40 minutes) (then)
Write a note on current problems, where to focus next (then)
11:45 | Water Break
Turn off the music and take out airpods (then)
Stand up, breathe and stretch body (then)
Pour and drink one glass of water (while)
Relaxing on the couch (then)
12:00 | Shallow Work Session One
Review email response batch (then)
Respond to urgent and important emails
Review social platforms (then)
Post and respond to @’s, public and direct messages
Review and read saved articles (if time available)
12:30 | Lunch
Put on an audiobook or podcast (then)
Make and eat lunch (then)
Wash dishes and tidy kitchen (then)
Put on walking shoes (then)
Go on a brief walk around the block (then)
Read current paperback book (then)
Set a phone alarm for current time + 20 min (then)
Take a 20-minute siesta (then)
14:00 | Shallow Work Session Two
Make a cup of black coffee (then)
Drink the cup of black coffee (while)
Reviewing tasks for the afternoon
Respond to urgent and important emails (and)
Post and respond to @’s, public and direct messages (then)
Review and read saved articles (if time available)
14:45 | Water Break
Turn off the music and take out airpods (then)
Stand up, breathe and stretch body (then)
Pour and drink one glass of water (while)
Relaxing on the couch (then)
15:00 | Deep Work Session Four
Put on Spotify deep work playlist [starter step] (then)
Place my phone in the desk draw (then)
Close all irrelevant Chrome tabs (then)
Set/review the input and output goals for session one (then)
Perform deep work (est 50 minutes) (then)
Write a note on current problems, where to focus next (then)
16:00 | Connect (Social and Relational Health)
Check-in or meet up with others close to me (or)
Exercise socially (e.g. five aside football) (or)
Host or attend social events physically or virtually
20:30 | Wind Down
Boil the kettle [starter step] (then)
Make green or rooibos tea (then)
Drink green or rooibos tea (while)
Listening to a metta guided meditation (then)
Reflect on the day and map out the plan for tomorrow (then)
Open up current writing resources (then)
Read project articles and make notes in Notion (then)
Brush teeth (then)
Plug phone in to charge and get into bed (then)
Continue to read current paperback book (then)
22:30 | Go to Sleep
Thursday | Conversation & Collaboration Phase
On Thursday, my focus shifts outward. I engage in professional conversations with clients, experts and behavioural science enthusiasts. The goal here is to explore important ideas and challenges, discuss theories, learn from others, collaborate with colleagues and share my knowledge.
As a result of this, my day isn’t as structured as the first three days of the week. There are still, however, typical activities and timeslots that I like to stick to when possible.
05:00 | Wake-up
Turn off phone alarm (then)
Make the bed and tidy room (then)
Pour and drink two glasses of water (then)
05:10 | Group Exercise (Physical Health)
Get dressed into active-wear (then)
Perform 3x body workout sets on my mat (then)
Put on hiking shoes (then)
Drink a glass of water with one teaspoon of Himalayan salt (then)
Take a potassium and magnesium electrolyte supplement (then)
Prepare water and coffee for the hike (then)
Go for a short hike with friends in the nearby forest (then)
Have a coffee and return home
8:30 | Shower & Change
Shave (when necessary) (then)
Shower (warm, cold, warm rhythm) (then)
Change into comfortable work-wear (then)
Put in airpods (then)
Play monthly prime set, Blinkist or Audiobook
09:00 | Deep Work Session One
Put on Spotify deep work playlist [starter step] (then)
Place my phone in the desk draw (then)
Close all irrelevant Chrome tabs (then)
Set/review the input and output goals for session one (then)
Perform deep work (est 40 minutes) (then)
Write a note on current problems, where to focus next (then)
09:45 | Tea Break
Turn off the music and take out airpods (then)
Stand up, breathe and stretch body (then)
Boil the kettle (then)
Make green or rooibos tea (then)
Drink green or rooibos tea (while)
Relaxing on the couch (then)
10:00 | Client, Participant Meeting Slot One
Pull meeting preparation notes (then)
Open up meetup invitation (then)
Start meeting (workshop or check-in)
Save notes and next actions in Notion (then)
10:45 | Coffee Break
Make a cup of black coffee [starter step] (then)
Drink the cup of black coffee (while)
Reviewing podcast guest guiding questions
11:00 | Podcast Recording
Open up Otter.AI transcription software (then)
Open up the Zoom portal and allow the guest and members in (then)
Interact with all guests and the members (help them to feel seen) (then)
Turn off all mics, Zoom alerts, and mute on entry for any late arrivals (then)
Ask the guest to put on their headphones and start recording locally (then)
Start recording locally with Sound Recorder (then)
Start recording virtually with Otter.AI (then)
Bring up the guiding questions and begin the conversation
12:30 | Lunch
Put on an audiobook or podcast (then)
Make and eat lunch (then)
Wash dishes and tidy kitchen (then)
Put on walking shoes (then)
Go on a brief walk around the block (then)
Read current paperback book (then)
Set a phone alarm for current time + 20 min (then)
Take a 20-minute siesta (then)
14:00 | Shallow Work Session Two
Make a cup of black coffee (then)
Drink the cup of black coffee (while)
Reviewing tasks for the afternoon
Respond to urgent and important emails (and)
Post and respond to @’s, public and direct messages (then)
Review and read saved articles (if time available)
14:45 | Water Break
Turn off the music and take out airpods (then)
Stand up, breathe and stretch body (then)
Pour and drink one glass of water (while)
Relaxing on the couch (then)
15:00 | Client, Participant Meeting Slot Two
Pull up meeting preparation notes (then)
Open up meetup invitation (then)
Start meeting (workshop or check-in)
Save notes and next actions in Notion (then)
16:00 | Client, Participant Meeting Slot Three
Pull up meeting preparation notes (then)
Open up meetup invitation (then)
Start meeting (workshop or check-in)
Save notes and next actions in Notion (then)
17:00 | Free Time
Podcast recording option for North and South American guests
21:30 | Wind Down
Boil the kettle [starter step] (then)
Make green or rooibos tea (then)
Drink green or rooibos tea (while)
Listening to a philosophy audiobook (then)
Reflect on the day and map out the plan for tomorrow (then)
Brush teeth (then)
Plug phone in to charge and get into bed (then)
Continue to read current paperback book (then)
22:30 | Go to Sleep
Friday | Review, Reflect & Planning Phase
My Fridays are typically even less structured than by Thursdays. The flexibility here is something I am experimenting with the moment, and I’ll have to learn whether it sticks or not. In any case, my focus on Fridays orientates around three things:
Reviewing the week: What went well, what didn’t, and how can I improve?
Reflecting on my current goals and systems, adjusting where necessary.
Planning out the deep work tasks and conversations for the following week.
Once I’ve done this, I’ll typically focus on researching and prioritising possible personal experiments, that I can run on myself. I will also review and confirm any weekend plans.
Besides the above points, the structure is reasonably similar to the deep work phase.
05:00 | Wake-up
05:10 | Exercise
05:40 | Shower & Change
06:00 | Inner Work
07:00 | Writing Session
07:45 | Tea Break
08:00 | Deep Work Session
08:45 | Tea Break
09:00 | Review Session
09:45 | Water Break
10:00 | Reflection Session
10:45 | Water Break
11:00 | Planning Session
11:45 | Water Break
12:00 | Shallow Work Session
12:30 | Lunch
14:00 | Exploratory Learning & Thinking
16:00 | Open Time
Saturday - Sunday | Restorative Phase
Although I try and leave my weekend relatively flexible and open, there are several project-related activities that do show up consistently.
Saturday | Course & Community Workshops
Due to the availability of my course participants and community members, the Circles in Time workshops usually take place on Saturdays. I use two timeslots to accommodate individuals from different timezones. 07:00 (GMT) and then 15:00 (GMT).Sunday | Podcasting Editing & The Weekly Circle Newsletter
Although in an ideal scenario, I would be doing the bulk of my editing and newsletter writing in the week, for now, a few chunks of Sunday are dedicated to these tasks. Fortunately, they are both activities that I thoroughly enjoy doing.
And there you have it!
That is what my current weekly circle looks like. As I mentioned previously, it is a perpetual work in progress and transforms completely during particular phases of the monthly, quarterly and annual circles I currently have in place.
I will find a point to share all of the monthly, quarterly and annual recurring systems. My sense is that in many ways, those systems are likely to be even more interesting and useful than the more frequent circling systems I shared here.
RETURN TO THE TYPICAL FORMAT
Next week I will return to the typical Weekly Circle format. If you enjoyed this kind of content, please let me know, and I will find ways (and time) to share it more consistently in the future.
In closing, here are some of the quotes that I have been circling around this week.
“Every man is born as many men and dies as a single one.” ~ Martin Heidegger
“Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty.” ~ Frank Herbert
“True freedom is impossible without a mind made free by discipline.” ~ Mortimer J. Adler
“Self-respect is the root of discipline: The sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself.” ~ Abraham Joshua Heschel
“It won’t always go your way, so you can’t get trapped in this idea that just because you’ve imagined a possibility for yourself that you somehow deserve it. Your entitled mind is dead weight. Cut it loose. Don’t focus on what you think you deserve. Take aim on what you are willing to earn.” ~ David Goggins
Until next week,
Take care,
David
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