Let me paint you a picture.
You sit down at your desk, ready to work. Coffee in hand. Good intentions flowing.
And then... you just feel completely overwhelmed.
Where do you even start? What's most important? What's urgent? What did you forget to do last week?
So you end up scrolling Instagram for two hours instead.
Or you start working on client stuff and suddenly it's 5pm and you haven't done a single thing for your own business.
Again.
Sound familiar?
Welcome to Squiggly Life
If you're a creative entrepreneur, there's a good chance you're what I call "squiggly."
Here are some signs you might be squiggly AF:
- You sit down to work and feel overwhelmed immediately
- You feel like you're always playing catch up (never ahead)
- You never have time for your own brand
- Client work always comes first, your business comes... never
- You're constantly working in the now, reacting to whatever's on fire
And look, I get it. Running a business when your brain works this way can feel really, really difficult.
You're juggling client projects, social media, emails, launches, admin tasks, your team, your life, your actual human needs like eating and sleeping...
It's a lot.
How I Used to "Plan" My Week
For the longest time, my weekly planning looked like this:
Sunday night: Panic about the week ahead Monday morning: Open my laptop, see 47 things that need doing, freeze Tuesday: Realize I forgot to do half the things from Monday Wednesday: Client emergency, everything else gets pushed Thursday: Try to catch up Friday: Give up and tell myself I'll "get organized next week"
Repeat forever.
I was always behind. Always reactive. Always feeling like I was failing at running my own business while somehow still showing up perfectly for everyone else.
Does this resonate? Because I know I'm not alone in this.
Then I Created the Squiggly Sunday Checklist
Last year, I decided something needed to change.
I couldn't keep running my business like this. It wasn't sustainable. It wasn't fun. And honestly? It wasn't working.
So I created what I now call my Squiggly Sunday Checklist.
(And yes, I do it on Sundays, but you can literally do this whenever works for you. Saturday morning. Monday evening. Tuesday at 2pm. The day doesn't matter - the system does.)
This checklist has saved me HOURS every single week. And more importantly? It's helped me actually get ahead instead of constantly playing catch up.
What's on the Squiggly Sunday Checklist?
The checklist covers 8 key areas of your business that, when you check in on them weekly, keep you moving forward instead of spinning your wheels.
Here's what I go through every single week:
1. Schedule ๐
This is where I clear off unnecessary meetings (because let's be real, not every meeting needs to happen), schedule in me-time, workouts, and family time, and most importantly - block off CEO time.
CEO time is non-negotiable time to work ON your business, not just IN it.
If you're always buried in client work and never have time for your own brand, this is why. You haven't protected time for it.
2. Success โญ
Here's where I write down 3-4 goals for the week. But not just any goals - I imagine it's Friday and ask myself: what would feel really good to have accomplished?
This helps me focus on what actually matters instead of just checking off random tasks that don't move the needle.
3. Money ๐ฐ
Every week, I check and update my forecasting grid (where my money is coming from and when), check my accounts and move money around if needed, look over my P&L, and run payroll if it's that time.
This one feels boring but it's SO important. You can't run a profitable business if you're not looking at your numbers regularly.
4. Social Media โจ
I check out my content plan for the week, schedule in time for both content planning AND content execution (two separate tasks!), respond to DMs, and check my stats.
The key here is treating content creation like the actual work it is, not something you "squeeze in" between other things.
5. Team/Projects ๐ฅ
I brief my team on the week ahead and check on ongoing project statuses.
Even if you don't have a team yet, you can use this section to check in on your own projects and make sure nothing's falling through the cracks.
6. Launch Campaigns ๐
This is where I update my campaign calendar, track launch goals, and plan promotions.
If you're not launching right now, you can skip this one. But if you are? This weekly check-in is crucial for staying on track.
7. Emails ๐
I delete weekend junk (bye bye, promotional emails I'll never read), flag important emails that need responses, schedule follow-ups to go out Monday, plan my weekly newsletter topic, and schedule Monday AM check-in emails for clients.
Email can easily become a time suck. This system helps me stay on top of it without living in my inbox.
8. Tasks โ
Finally, I plot out all my daily, quick, and ongoing tasks for the week in order of time and importance.
This is where everything comes together. I can see my whole week laid out and I know exactly what needs to happen when.
The Secret Ingredient: Romanticize It
Here's the thing that makes this actually work instead of just being another productivity system you try for two weeks and abandon:
You have to romanticize it.
Before I sit down to do my Squiggly Sunday Checklist, I make it nice for myself.
I get a good beverage (usually a matcha latte or a nice coffee). I put on some vibey tunes. I light a candle maybe. I make it feel like a little ritual instead of a chore.
Because if it feels like a chore, you're not going to do it consistently. And consistency is what makes this work.
What This Checklist Has Done for My Business
Since implementing this weekly ritual, here's what's changed:
- I'm actually working ahead instead of constantly reacting
- I have time blocked for my own business (and I actually use it)
- I'm not forgetting important things or dropping balls
- My weeks feel calm instead of chaotic
- I'm making progress on my big goals, not just treading water
- I can see my whole business at a glance every week
It's been a complete game changer.
And the best part? It only takes me about 30-45 minutes each week. That's it.
30-45 minutes of planning saves me probably 10+ hours of spinning my wheels, forgetting things, and working on the wrong stuff.
This Is for You If...
The Squiggly Sunday Checklist is perfect for you if:
- You're a creative service provider juggling client work and your own business
- You feel like you're always behind
- You never have time for your own marketing or business development
- You want to launch but can't seem to find the time to plan it
- You're tired of feeling overwhelmed every time you open your laptop
- You're ready to work smarter, not just harder
Basically, if you're squiggly like me, this is going to help.
Get Your Free Copy
I've made my exact Squiggly Sunday Checklist available as a free Notion template that you can duplicate and use in your own workspace.
It's the same checklist I use every single week to stay on top of my business, and I want you to have it.
One Last Thing
Running a business as a squiggly creative doesn't have to feel like chaos.
You don't have to be naturally organized or have your life together 24/7 to run a successful business.
You just need systems that work for how YOUR brain works.
And this checklist? It works for squiggly brains.
So grab your favorite beverage, put on some good music, and try it out this week.
I promise it'll save you hours.
And if you love it (which I think you will), make it a ritual. Every Sunday. Or Saturday. Or whenever works for you.
Your future self will thank you.
About the Author
