What I Do Every Friday to Clear My Mind (and My Inbox)

Today’s Skill: Decluttering

If you're like me, fitting everything in is a constant struggle.

You're doing the important work like calls, proposals, and deep strategy but somehow, the not-so-important stuff keeps creeping in. A half-finished email. An idea for a new product. A reminder to update your website copy. Before you know it, your brain is cluttered and you’re distracted.

That’s why I want to focus on prioritization this week.

There are plenty of tips out there on how to become more productive. I’ve tried dozens. I even had Nir Eyal, author of “Indistractable”, on the Just Get Started Podcast to dive into why we procrastinate and how we can regain control of our day.

So, after trying all the “best practices”, I wanted to share the single most impactful productivity habit I’ve added to my week. One that’s helped me focus on what matters without feeling buried by a pile of unfinished tasks.

It’s called the Friday Free-For-All.

And no, it’s not just a fancy to-do list.

Here’s How It Works

1. Start a Running List

Use a Google Doc, your Notes app, a sticky note, or scribble on a whiteboard. Whatever can be accessed quickly to add new items to it.

2. Capture Non-Urgent, Non-Important Tasks All Week

When something pops up that doesn’t need to be handled right now or isn’t a priority item just put it on the list.

→ Example: An email that can wait. A broken link you noticed. A new Linkedin post. A “cool idea” you’re not ready to act on.

3. Block off one 30 - 90 minute “Time boxing” session on Friday

Schedule this like an important meeting on your calendar. Don’t skip it!

4. Tackle the List As Fast As Possible

Pick whatever item excites you and start there. But, work quickly. Knock them out, delegate, or delete them entirely.

Use the rule “Good now is better than perfect later.”

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s completion.

But Brian... Isn’t This Just a To-Do List?

Not quite.

To-do lists tend to balloon into these unmanageable long grocery lists that are there just laughing at you saying, "You lazy SOB... you’ll never finish any of this.”

In reality, most of that stuff doesn’t need to be there in the first place.

The Friday Free-For-All is different. It’s intentional. It’s about control.

You protect your prime hours during the week for the most important work and dump everything else off your plate and out of your head until Friday.

Then you clean house.

This habit frees up your mental bandwidth. You’re not dragging a bunch of nagging tasks into the weekend (and inevitably, Monday). You’ve gotten them off your plate AND you did it in one swift motion instead of getting pulled off of important work throughout the week.

What You’ll Notice Right Away

1. You’ll stop procrastinating by picking the “easy” tasks when you’re avoiding the hard stuff.

2. You’ll pick the fun tasks to do first. You’ll start noticing what excites you at the moment or might need to get some higher priority in the future.

3. Some tasks will resolve themselves like an email chain you were cc’d on magically got resolved without you intervening.

4. You’ll delete more than you thought, realizing some things didn’t need to be done at all.

5. You’ll feel lighter. Clearer. More focused. You’ll actually look forward to this session because you’ll get so much completed.

One Final Note

It doesn’t have to be Friday. Pick any day. Just make it consistent.

We spend too much of the week reacting.

You know what I’m talking about. You feel the constant pressure to get more done and wonder where the hours are going.

There are enough hours, we just have to work with more intention.

And when you work with intention you are able to focus on the 20% of the business that actually drives you toward success. (while not pulling your hair out!)

Your Action Item:

Try it this upcoming week.

1. Pick a day.

2. Schedule your “time block”

3. Start your list.

4. Take action when the time comes!

Stay focused and resist the urge to jump into those “urgent” items. You got this!

PS - I’d love to hear from anyone who commits to this and have you share your experience.