Have you ever reached the end of a week and wondered where all your time went?
That used to happen to me all the time. Until I started doing a weekly review in my bullet journal. And it’s made me feel so much more in control of my week.
It sounds fancy, but it really isn’t. It’s just 10–15 minutes, once a week, to look back at what happened and look ahead at what’s coming.
In this post I’ll show you exactly how to do a weekly review in your bullet journal, what to write, and how to make it a habit that sticks.
Why Bother With a Weekly Review?
I get it… adding another thing to your routine can feel like the last thing you need. But hear me out.
For a long time I’d end the week wondering: where did my days go? Was I productive enough? Why do I have so many unfinished tasks? But instead of figuring it out, I just flipped to a new page and started all over again.
A weekly review won’t magically fix all of that, but it will help you figure out what’s actually getting in the way.
In just 10–15 minutes you:
- Stop carrying half-finished tasks around in your head
- Actually notice what’s going well (we forget this way too easily)
- Know exactly what to focus on next week instead of just winging it
- Start your week with intention instead of chaos
- Adjust your plans when needed
- Stay connected to your habits & goals
How to Set Up Your Weekly Review Page
The good news: there’s no perfect layout. Your weekly review page doesn’t need to be pretty or complicated (but please knock yourself out if you want to add some creativity to the mix).
You can create a dedicated weekly review spread or simply add a reflection section at the end of each week.
That said, here’s a simple setup to get you started:
1. Last week at a glance
Start by looking back:
- What did you get done?
- What didn’t happen and why?
- Any unfinished tasks to migrate to next week?
- Am I on track with my habits and goals?
This is also where reflection prompts come in handy (more on that below).
2. Next week’s priorities
Not a full to-do list — just your top 3 to 5 priorities. The things that actually need to happen. Everything else is a bonus.
3. Upcoming events or deadlines
A quick scan of your calendar so nothing sneaks up on you. Appointments, deadlines, anything that needs prep.
👉 Keep it to one page if you can. The simpler it is, the more likely you are to actually do it every week.
Journaling Prompts
Not sure what to actually write during your weekly review? These prompts will get you started. You don’t have to use all of them, pick the ones that resonate with you.
Looking back at your week:
- What went well this week, and why?
- What didn’t go as planned?
- What got in the way?
- What distracted me?
- Was my planning realistic?
- What am I proud of, even if it’s something small?
- Is there anything I keep putting off? Why?
Looking ahead:
- What are my top 3 priorities for next week?
- What do I need more of?
- What do I want to do less of?
- What would make next week feel like a success?
- Is there anything I need to prepare or arrange in advance?
- What is my main focus for the coming week?
Review your habits (optional)
If you use habit trackers in your bullet journal, this is a great time to look for patterns.
- Which habits felt easy?
- Which habits did I struggle with?
- What obstacles got in the way?
How to Actually Make It a Habit
Setting up the page is the easy part. Showing up every week is where most of us struggle.
Here’s what actually helps:
Schedule it. Sunday evening tea, Monday morning coffee, Friday lunch break. The more naturally it fits into your existing routine, the less it feels like an extra thing to remember.
Don’t skip twice. Missing one week happens. Life gets in the way and that’s fine. But try not to skip two weeks in a row, that’s when habits quietly disappear.
Keep your journal visible. If your bullet journal is tucked away in a drawer somewhere, you’ll forget. Leave it on your desk as a visual reminder.
Be honest with yourself (but kind). The weekly review isn’t a performance review. You’re not grading yourself. It’s just a conversation with yourself about how things are going. Some weeks will be great, some won’t. Both are useful.
Use my free printable 🙂. Not sure where to start? Check out my free Weekly Review Worksheet below. It includes all the prompts from this article in a simple, printable format, so all you need to do is sit down and start reflecting. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
Or visit my Etsy shop for more printables!
Final Thoughts
A weekly review doesn’t automatically make you more productive, it just makes you more conscious of how your week went. It helps you notice patterns. If you consistently didn’t get things done, you’ll see it. If something kept getting in the way, you’ll spot it. And then you can make adjustments instead of repeating the same week over and over again.
So pick a time this week, open your bullet journal, and give it 10-15 minutes. And if you’re not sure where to start, use the prompts in this post and keep it simple. That’s really all it takes.
Do you already do a weekly review? Or are you trying it for the first time? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear how it goes!
