How you end your workweek will not only have a huge impact on
how productive you are the following week, but also may determine how relaxed
you are over the weekend.
"Successful people tend to adhere to routines in general,
so it's no surprise that the most successful people I know
maintain a Friday afternoon routine," says Michael Kerr, an
international business speakerand author of "The Humor Advantage."
Here are 12 things successful people typically do on a Friday
afternoon:
1. They reflect on their accomplishments from the week
It's far too easy to wallow over what you didn't accomplish,
Kerr says. "Successful people tend to flip that around and remind
themselves of just how much progress they did make, even if it's only 'small
wins.'" Acknowledging and appreciating your accomplishments not only boosts
your happiness levels, but it fuels momentum. "A great ritual for team
leaders to create is to turn this into a Friday afternoon team huddle
tradition, wherein everyone shares their top three accomplishments for the
week," Kerr suggests.
2. They figure out their priorities for the following week
Successful people take time on Friday afternoon to reflect on
their professional and personal lives and determine three to five major
priorities they want to accomplish for each, says Laura Vanderkam, author of
"What the Most
Successful People Do Before Breakfast" and "I Know How She Does It."
3. They establish a schedule and to-do list for the following
week
They don't just prioritize; they plan, Vanderkam says. "If
you assign each priority a deadline, things are likely to get done. You want to
hit Monday morning knowing
what you need to do, so you're not wasting that time figuring this out."
Having a plan for Monday also results in a more relaxed weekend, she adds.
"Your to-do list won't be nagging at your brain for two days."
4. They carve out downtime for the following week
Kerr says driven, successful people can easily fall into the
workaholic trap and lose sight of "the long game," but they always
prioritize and plan for downtime. "They think about how they can maintain
their work-life balance the following week. They understand that for them to be
at their best, to be most productive, and to accomplish everything they need to
during the following week, they need to have some free time."
5 . They get organized
"Many successful people I know take 15 to 30 minutes every
Friday afternoon to clean out and organize their email files and to clean and
organize their office, so that they know they are returning to a fresh,
organized start the following week," Kerr says. "Some find it
therapeutic, as it can help clear the psychological clutter as well, and it has
become a ritualistic way of capping the end of the week."
6. They look at their calendar for the coming week
There's nothing worse than walking into the office Monday
morning only to find out you have a meeting starting in three minutes (or,
three minutes ago). Take a second to look over your calendar to see
what you have going on at the start of the following week.
7. They let people know how accessible they'll be that weekend
Successful people set technology ground rules before leaving,
both with themselves and key people around them, Kerr says. They let their
staff and coworkers know whether they plan to respond to emails or voice mails
over the weekend, and if so, when.
8. They tie up loose ends
It's impossible to wrap up every project,
conversation, decision, etc. on Friday afternoon. Some things will always have
to seep into the following week. But successful people always finish and tie up
loose ends on the things they can. It helps them go into the
weekend without having unfinished to-do list items looming over them.
9. They think about their weekend plans
Vanderkam says if you don't already have weekend plans by
Friday afternoon, you should take some time to think about what you'd like to
do. Perhaps you've been dying to try that new restaurant; you really want to
spend time with your kids at the park; or you have errands you've been putting
off. Take a few minutes, before it's too late, to make reservations, check the
weather, find a babysitter, etc.
"You don't have to plan every minute, but having a few
things you know you'll enjoy means you're ready for a weekend of real
rejuvenation," she says.
10. They plan a fun Friday activity
Some successful people have a fun ritual that helps them create
a definitive divide between their workweek and weekend. "It may be an
afternoon cocktail with a group of friends, an hour of volunteer work, or a
regularly scheduled gym workout or game of tennis," Kerr explains.
"What's key is that it be something they look forward to, so they view it
as a reward for reaching the end of the week, and that it's something that
gives them a complete mental shift."
11. They acknowledge others' accomplishments and hard work
"One leader I know uses Friday afternoons to either phone
or drop by employees' offices in person to thank them for the work they did
during the week," Kerr says. "She says doing it on Friday afternoon
not only helps her employees go home feeling appreciated, happier, and more
relaxed, but it also helps her feel better and happier, as well."
12. They say goodbye to people around the office
A simple, "have a nice weekend" can go a long way.
"This is especially important for leaders to do, and especially important
on a Friday afternoon to give both yourself and the people you work with a
sense of closure to the week and a chance to connect, if even briefly, before
everyone departs," Kerr says.
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