Holiday weeks. Summer Fridays. PTO.
Working three days a week sounds dreamy until you’re staring at your overflowing to-do list, trying to figure out what actually matters.
Here’s the truth: You can’t do it all in 3 days. But you can do what matters most.
Whether you’re navigating a short week because of July 4th or trying out summer hours, ruthless prioritization isn’t just a productivity strategy; it’s an act of self-respect.
Here’s how I’ve learned to make short weeks manageable:
🗓 Plan the week before
I jot down my 3 main goals or “weekly wins” as our TA team calls it, for the upcoming short week (ideally one for each day). If that’s not realistic, I pick priorities based on deadlines or tasks that are small but necessary.
🚫 Ditch the “nice to haves”
A 3-day workweek isn’t the time to be aspirational. If it’s not essential, it gets pushed to next week. Want to write that perfect pitch? Organize your Google Drive? Cool, but that can probably wait.
🧑🤝🧑 Prep your peeps
If you manage others, make sure they’re set up with everything they need before you’re out. I like to check in early so I’m not troubleshooting when I should be signing off.
⏳ Build in buffer time
Even with a tight schedule, I block off 30 minutes (usually at the beginning of my day) to check in on side projects or team progress. Just enough to catch fires—without lighting new ones.
🔒 Time block like it’s your job
When hours are limited, time blocking helps me stay focused. I treat each block like a non-negotiable meeting…with myself.
🗃 Batch the brainless stuff
Knock out all your quick wins (Slack replies, simple approvals, recurring tasks) in one focused block. Grouping similar tasks frees up brain space for deeper work later.
📤 Set your OOO expectations early
Even if you’re not technically out of office, a short week is still compressed. Use a friendly auto-reply or Slack status to let people know your response time might be slower, and redirect them if needed. (You’re not being rude; you’re being clear.)
🧘♀️ Wrap up before you unplug.
The worst feeling? Logging back in to a hot mess. I block the last hour of my final workday to plan my next week, check in on my 3 goals, and send any loose-end messages. It helps me log off fully and return with clarity.
And most importantly? Grace.
You’re not a machine. You’re not behind. And you’re not failing if something rolls over to next week.
3-day workweeks aren’t about doing less; they’re about doing less, better.
Cameron (TA Newsletter Operations Manager)