With my annual goals in mind, I then make a priority list every Sunday night of what I plan to accomplish in the next week. That priority list will include both immediate assignments and steps toward my annual goals ... I tightly schedule Monday and loosely schedule the rest of the week. Then on Monday night I schedule Tuesday more tightly, based on what’s left on the priority list and what’s come up on Monday. Tuesday night I schedule Wednesday, and so forth. I’ve usually gotten most things done by Friday, which can be a mop up day or a time for more planning.

• Laura Vanderkam (What the Most Successful People Do at Work)