The myth of the single self
Most planning tools assume one person with one job and one list. Real life looks different: a founder who is also an athlete, a parent, a writer. Each identity has its own goals, energy and rhythm.
The cost of context switching
Every time you jump from one identity to another, part of your attention stays behind. Researchers call it attention residue. Ten switches a day and you finish nothing well.
The fix isn't more discipline. It's fewer, deliberate switches — grouping work by identity.
Why the week is the unit
A day is too short to balance several identities. A month is too abstract to act on. A week is long enough to give everyone a turn and short enough to stay honest.
The five-step method
1. Define
List the 4–6 identities that matter right now. Give each a name, a colour and one sentence of intent.
2. See
Look at the whole week on one screen. Where does your attention already go?
3. Allocate
Place identities into days. Protect at least one slot for the identity you've been neglecting.
4. Commit
Choose one concrete outcome per identity. "Athlete: three runs." "Writer: one draft."
5. Do
Each morning, check who you're being today and work only as that identity for the block.
The weekly ritual
- Sunday allocation — 15 minutes to make room for each identity.
- Friday review — who got time, who didn't, what to change.
Put the framework into practice.
week.monster is the tool built around this method.