The 12 Week Year Review

My ‘The 12 Week Year‘ review post is going to be slightly different from my other book reviews. I will give a quick precise, and a short opinion but I will be focusing more on how I tweaked it and applied it to my own life.

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The premise of The 12 Week Year is that if you think of one week being the equivalent of one month you can up your productivity in the same comparative manner. The tag line of the book states ‘Get more done in 12 weeks than others do in 12 months’

The 12 Week Year Review (Sort Of)

I think I’m a bit of a contradiction (which 100% won’t surprise you if you know me in real life, and perhaps won’t surprise you if you have read my blog for any length of time). On the one hand, I have such an incredibly busy brain that I enjoy juggling a few balls and thrive way more when I am being busy and productive. But on the other hand, I love how a slow life decreases the busyness of my brain somewhat and allows me the space to smell the roses. Do you see the dilemma? Anyway, all this to say…

I love productivity books.

A lot.

So this book was a no brainer for me.

It’s funny though. Whilst this book was a really easy read (albeit repetitive), I didn’t feel I could apply it, as is, to my own life. I think this is maybe because I don’t tend to plan a year in advance. At least, not the specifics. Therefore, to do so and then cram them into 12 weeks is a bit overwhelming.

However, there was some take away, although it took a few months before I realised what that take away would be.

After reading it, I think the thing I liked most was the concept of diminishing a specific length of time whilst leaving goal list the same length. It utilises Parkinson’s Law in a kind of topsy turvy sort of way. I wondered if I could tweak it a little. Y’know, to suit me a bit better.

Claire, What On Earth Are You Talking About?

Well…hear me out. What if one day of 24 hours was separated into three hour segments. And I assigned something to focus on for each of those three hours. Not quite the same as the one week equals one month idea from the book, but maybe using its ideas?

I mentioned I juggle a lot of balls. In this way, I can limit the balls to specific segments of the day so that I can perhaps be more productive but far less overwhelmed.

For example:

7am-10am Everything Homemaking

10am-1pm Everything Homeschool

1pm-4pm Everything Small Business Related

4pm-7pm Everything Family Related

7pm-10pm Everything Enjoyable/Relaxing Related

10pm-12pm Everything ‘Finishing-one-day-and-getting-ready-to-sleep Related

Let’s Look at the School Related Hours As An Example

My days are generally crawl out of bed and go-go-go until I crawl back into bed at night. I flit between activities. For example, if the children don’t need me during their homeschool, I might do a bit of housework or prepare lunch or do some business or blog related stuff. Ten minutes here. Ten minutes there. I wondered, though, what would happen if I just did school work related stuff during homeschool time. So I began making flash cards, marking exam questions and planning the next day. And when the three hours were up I PUT AWAY ALL SCHOOL WORK AND DREW A LINE UNDER IT FOR THE DAY.

This, I think, for me, is the biggest take away. It means there is an end to the work I do for home school. Instead of feeling like I could squeeze in a few more minutes here and there, it ended after three hours.

And the Home-Making Related Hours as Another Example

I’m useless at all kinds of home-making related stuff. I love the idea of it. And I really enjoy the ‘making’ part of it. Unfortunately, the ‘cleaning’ and ‘tidying’ part also comes under home-making and I’m resolutely naff at that. Again, it has always been a little bit here and a little bit there. I mean it gets done, but not well. And at least once a week, I reach dinner time without giving so much of a passing thought about what we are going to eat.

What if, instead of bit-home-making, I devoted three hours to it each morning. Gary and Lillie are always up and out. The littles are in bed for at least half of the three hours. This would give me time and space to shop for food, get started on dinner, deep clean a room…well, you get the picture.

An Opportunity to Curate Each Three Hours

I think what really appealed about my take on this book is that I get to curate each of the three hours in any which way I want. They can be gradually built up to include everything that needs to be included and more. I can find quick ways to do things. I can combine one beneficial activity with another. For example, walking to the shops early morning to buy food for the day combines shopping for dinner, walking in sunshine and fresh air, getting in lots of lovely steps and listening to an audio book. Tick, tick, tick…and tick.

So, to finish off my ‘The 12 Week Year’ review, do I recommend this book?

Yes, I think I do. It does what it says on the tin. And if this doesn’t suit you, then you might be compelled to apply its principle. I am very excited to see where I am at the end of this year and whether or not the segmented day allows me to be productive whilst also decreasing the pressure of always trying to squeeze jobs in every spare ten minutes I have. Home-making ends at 10am. School ends at 1pm. Small business ends at 4pm…yes, this book has definitely affected my life.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my ‘The 12 Week Year’ review. If you would like to read more book reviews head over to my Book Review Page