One of the first things I noticed when I stepped into retirement was just how easy it is for time to drift. Without the structure of meetings, deadlines, and commutes, the days can quietly blur together. At first, that felt like freedom but I quickly realised that if I wasn’t intentional, the freedom could turn into aimlessness.
That’s why I created a simple Weekly Rhythm Template.
Not a hyper-scheduled planner. Not an hour-by-hour grind. But a simple tool to help me live slowly, intentionally, and with balance.
Why Structure Helps (Even in Slow Living)
It might sound counterintuitive, adding structure to a slow life?
But this isn’t about productivity for productivity’s sake. It’s about making sure that the time I have is being invested in the things that actually matter to me. Instead of a detailed to-do list, my template breaks each day into just four time blocks:
- Early Morning
- Morning
- Afternoon
- Evening
That’s it. Four flexible chunks of time each day to help me gently track where my energy is going, and where I want it to go.
It’s About Alignment, Not Achievement
The point isn’t to “get more done.” It’s to stay connected to the life I want to live.
For example, I want to:
- Spend quality time with family and friends
- Stay healthy through regular exercise and outdoor time
- Continue writing and reflecting through my blog
- Chip away at bigger goals like decluttering or growing our own food
Without some kind of rhythm, those things can easily get pushed aside by a scroll through social media, an episode of ‘Escape to the Country’, or a bout of good old-fashioned procrastination.
A Weekly Practice of Reflection
More than anything, this rhythm template gives me space to reflect — not just on what I did, but on how it felt.
At the end of each week, I take a few moments to jot down:
- What worked well
- What didn’t go quite as planned (because every day is a school day, as they say)
- And just as importantly: 3–4 things I’m grateful for
That small act of noticing joy: a conversation, a view, a moment of peace has a powerful way of lifting the spirit and bringing perspective.
A Tool to Serve the Bigger Picture
The weekly rhythm helps me:
- Balance my time between rest, work, play, and purpose
- Notice when too many days are slipping by unclaimed
- Stay flexible while still being intentional
- Celebrate what actually got done (even if it wasn’t everything)
- Pause to reflect and give thanks
And perhaps most importantly, it gives me a place to start turning the words of my V2MOMs into real, daily action. It’s where big-picture goals, those BHAGs, start to take shape and find their feet in the everyday.
It’s not about pressure. It’s about presence and progress that honours the pace of a life lived well.
Want to Try It?
I’ve created a simple, printable version of my Weekly Rhythm Template that you can download here and use it however fits your life.
Whether you’re retired, semi-retired, or just trying to live with more intention, this rhythm-based approach might just help you find a little more clarity, space, and meaning in the week ahead.
Great2Live 
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