Make Room for Something Good This Week
By TaShara Davis, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor | Founder, Brighter Side Counseling
Before you look at everything that needs to get done this week, ask yourself one more question:
What am I looking forward to?
It might be lunch with someone who makes you laugh. A walk in the evening. A new recipe. Twenty quiet minutes with a book you keep meaning to open.
If nothing comes to mind, you have an opportunity to add something.
When you are used to keeping things moving, it can be easy to plan around what everyone needs and leave your own enjoyment up to chance. As you prepare for the week ahead, give yourself something to look forward to on purpose.
Give the good things a place on your calendar
You may not always feel motivated before doing something that matters to you. Sometimes the willingness comes first, and the enjoyment follows once you get started.
Think about something you usually feel glad you made time for. It could be getting outside, calling a friend, or spending a little time on a hobby.
Choose a version that fits your week.
If an hour feels unrealistic, try ten minutes. If making plans feels like too much, start with a text. Give yourself an easy place to begin, and stay curious about how you feel afterward.
“Do something for myself” is easy to postpone. “Sit outside with my coffee on Tuesday morning” is something you can picture yourself doing.
Carry something good forward
Before deciding what needs to change, notice what helped you last week.
When did you feel a little more at ease? What gave you energy? When did you feel connected to someone—or to yourself?
Perhaps you asked for help sooner. Took a lunch break. Had a conversation that left you smiling. Followed through on something you had been putting off.
Those moments offer useful information about what supports you. Give yourself credit for your part in them.
Then ask: What is one thing I would like to repeat?
You already have experiences to build on, even if last week was complicated.
Choose how you want to show up
Alongside your to-do list, think about what you want more of in your everyday life.
More connection? A little courage? More room to be playful?
Make that personal and practical. Connection might mean putting your phone down during dinner. Courage might mean asking the question you have been holding back. Playfulness might mean turning on music while you cook and letting yourself enjoy it.
You can practice what matters to you through ordinary choices. It does not have to become another standard you measure yourself against.
Try this:
This week, I want to make more room for ______. One small way I can do that is ______.
Let your answer be something you actually want.
Let yourself enjoy it while it is happening
Sometimes a good moment arrives, and your attention is already on the next thing.
When you notice something pleasant this week, stay with it a little longer. Taste your food. Let yourself laugh. Receive a compliment without immediately explaining it away. Pause after finishing something and acknowledge the effort it took.
You can even ask yourself: What am I enjoying about this moment?
There is no need to force a positive feeling. The practice is simply noticing when one is there and giving it some attention.
A difficult day can still hold a warm conversation, a satisfying accomplishment, or a moment that makes you smile. You are allowed to enjoy those parts fully.
Include yourself in the week ahead
As you prepare for Monday, leave room for something beyond getting through your responsibilities.
Something to enjoy. Someone to connect with. A small step toward something meaningful.
And if the week changes, you can adjust. A missed walk can become a few minutes outside. A canceled lunch can become a phone call. Stay flexible about the plan while remembering why you made it.
Tonight, choose one thing you would like to look forward to. Give it a little space in your week.
There is room in this week for responsibility, progress, and joy. You belong in those plans, too.