Happy Friday Reader

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Although if you're reading this on January 2nd, "Friday" is a bit of a technicality. You're probably still in that strange limbo between Christmas and going back to school - half on holiday, half thinking about the term ahead.

Most school leaders I know are already feeling that pull to hit the ground running on Monday. Urgent emails, staff meetings, student issues that stacked up over the break. The temptation is to dive straight back in and just react to whatever lands first.

But here’s the thing about planning: it’s never urgent, but you never regret doing it.

(I’m stealing that from Joe Wicks talking about exercise. Sorry for bringing up exercise on January 2nd. I’ve got major New Year’s resolution trauma myself.)

That week between Christmas and New Year, I always carve out time to plan. Not because I’m naturally organised - I’m really not. But because I know what happens when I don’t. I spend the first two weeks of term firefighting instead of leading.

My process is super simple. Three steps, and it starts with tech going away.

First, I grab coloured paper and mind map everything. Laptop closed, phone face down. Just big sheets of yellow paper and my thoughts. Everything I want to achieve in the term, the stuff that’s weighing on me, the things that’ll matter in six months. Getting it out of my head and onto paper.

Second, I gap-fill with tech. Now the laptop comes out. I open my project management system, emails, calendar. What did I miss? What’s lurking that I forgot about? I do this second because if I start with tech, I get distracted. Every time.

Third, I print calendars. Monthly views, an annual overview, weekly breakdowns for the first month. Then I hash everything in by hand before it goes digital.

The whole thing takes maybe 90 minutes. And it’s one of those practices that feels optional until you don’t do it, and then you spend January wondering why everything feels chaotic.

This kind of strategic thinking, breaking down your year, your term, your week, is something we dig into properly in the Intensive. But you don’t need a 10-week programme to start. You just need paper and a quiet hour before Monday hits.

So here’s my question for you: What’s your planning ritual as you head back next week?

Hit reply and tell me. I’m genuinely curious what works for other leaders, especially the ones who’ve cracked that balance between planning enough and not overdoing it.

See you next Friday,

Shane