As a product manager, I’m used to working in iterations, breaking down work into manageable chunks, reviewing progress, and adjusting the course when needed. Over time, I realized that this structured approach from Agile frameworks (particularly Scrum) wasn’t just useful for work. It could also help me improve my personal life.
This thought was actually one of the first realizations of how much from product management can be used in daily life… Idea that sparked my 2023 book, Build Your Way, which I later used to create a Udemy course, Product Manage Life, that’s had over 1000 participants.
So for the past few years, on and off, I’ve been conducting weekly personal reviews, inspired by Sprint Reviews and Sprint Retrospectives. These allow me to check in with myself, acknowledge progress, identify challenges, and course-correct when needed.
sidenote: In Scrum, Sprint Review focuses on work that’s been done; while Sprint Retrospective focuses on how we have worked/collaborated and how we can improve the ways of doing
Without further ado, here is the structure I use. (And yes, you can download the templates at the bottom.)
Weekly Review Format
🎯 FOCUS AREAS 🎯
I start by evaluating key areas of my life. I ask myself: How did the past week go?
🤾♀️ PHYSICAL HEALTH & ACTIVITY
Did I exercise regularly? How was my energy level?
🧘 MENTAL HEALTH AND SELF-CARE
Did I take time to recharge? How did I manage stress?
🧠 LEARNING
What did I learn this week? Am I growing intellectually?
💼 WORK
What were my key achievements? What challenges did I face?
📝 WEEKLY REVIEW 📝
Next, I break down my week into key insights:
- Small & big wins 💪 – What did I achieve, no matter how small?
- Mistakes I made 🙇 – What were they and what can I learn from them?
- Gave me energy ⚡ – What made me feel excited and engaged?
- Took my energy 🌧️ – What drained me?
- Biggest challenge 🧗🏼 – What was the toughest part of my week?
- What worries me 😰 – Any lingering concerns?
- I’m grateful for 🙏 – What moments made me feel grateful?
🌱 HABITS TRACKER 🌱
Finally, I assess my habits:
Habit 1: (e.g., Morning Run)
Score: X out of Y
Habit 2: (e.g., Daily Reading)
Score: X out of Y
Habit 3: (e.g., No Screens Before Bed)
Score: X out of Y
Benefits of a Weekly Personal Review
By dedicating 20–30 minutes each week to this structured reflection, I’ve noticed:
- More awareness of what’s working in my life
- Faster course correction when things go off track
- Better focus on long-term goals
- A sense of accomplishment even in small wins
Honestly, this simple system has been a game-changer for me.
Why It Works
- It keeps me focused on what truly matters
- I spot patterns faster—good and bad
- It helps me celebrate progress, not just chase goals
- It makes me more intentional
…Freebies
If you would like to try out my template,
You can get a Google Doc Template here
Get a Markdown Template here (useful for Obsidian or notetaking tools)