Good Morning Everyone! We hope you're ready for another Friday themed newsletter!
This Week's Framework: The 10-Minute Friday Reset That Changes Everything
Friday afternoons are when most people mentally check out, scroll social media, or frantically try to tie up loose ends before the weekend. But the most successful professionals use Friday differently—they use it as a strategic reset point that sets them up for a stronger next week. The problem isn't that we don't reflect on our work; it's that we reflect randomly, emotionally, and without a clear framework for turning insights into action. Today, you're going to learn the "Stop, Start, Continue" framework that takes just 10 minutes but transforms how you approach your work, relationships, and personal growth week after week.
This framework works because it forces you to be both honest about what's not working and intentional about what you want to change. Instead of letting your week just "happen" to you, you become the architect of your own improvement. Here's exactly how to implement your Friday Filter ritual:
Block 10 minutes on your calendar every Friday at 4 PM (or whatever time works before you mentally check out)
Find a quiet space where you won't be interrupted—this isn't multitasking time
Use the same format every week to build the habit: grab a notebook, document, or use your phone's notes app
Set a timer for 10 minutes to keep yourself focused and prevent overthinking
Answer these three questions in exactly this order, spending roughly 3 minutes on each
Write down specific, actionable items rather than vague feelings or general observations
Keep your answers to 1-2 sentences maximum—this is about clarity, not journaling
End by scheduling one concrete action for Monday morning based on your "Start" item
Here's your weekly reflection template to copy and use starting today:
STOP: What drained my energy or wasted time this week? Examples: checking email first thing in the morning, saying yes to meetings without clear agendas, scrolling social media during work breaks, complaining about things outside my control, procrastinating on important tasks by doing busy work instead
START: What would make next week more productive or fulfilling? Examples: blocking 2 hours of deep work time on Tuesday morning, having one real conversation with a colleague instead of just small talk, taking a 10-minute walk after lunch, preparing for meetings 5 minutes beforehand, saying no to one request that doesn't align with my priorities
CONTINUE: What worked well that I want to maintain or expand? Examples: using the two-sentence email strategy, keeping my desk clean at the end of each day, eating lunch away from my computer, asking clarifying questions instead of making assumptions, celebrating small wins with my team
Monday Action: Based on my "Start" item, what's one specific thing I'll do Monday morning? Examples: block 9-11 AM on my calendar for deep work, schedule a coffee chat with Sarah from marketing, download a walking app and set a lunch reminder, create a meeting prep template, draft a polite "no" response template
Success Metric: How will I know this worked? Examples: I'll feel more focused during my deep work block, I'll learn something new about Sarah's projects, I'll feel more energized after lunch, my meetings will start on time with clear outcomes, I'll spend less time on requests that aren't aligned with my goals
The power of Friday Filters isn't in the individual insights—it's in the compound effect of making small, intentional adjustments week after week. After a month of this practice, you'll notice patterns in what consistently drains versus energizes you, and you'll develop the skill of proactive course-correction rather than reactive problem-solving. This 10-minute investment on Friday becomes the foundation for months of more intentional, productive, and satisfying work. Try it this Friday and see how it shifts your entire approach to the week ahead.
Have a great weekend everyone and see you all on Monday!
The Casual Workweek