How to begin the week with a bang - on Friday!

The week is winding down for most 9 to 5ers. How do you feel about what you have accomplished? Did you break any new ground, solve a nagging problem, or find an outstanding person to join your team?

On Friday afternoon, many people are starting to think about the weekend. The level of productivity in many offices plummets. Sometimes we feel drained and regret that we did not knock the cover off the ball this week. Then Monday comes and the task of getting things rolling again is daunting.

I have found it helpful to take 60 to 90 minutes on Friday afternoon and straighten up my office a bit and create a plan for next week. This allows me to leave the week on a high note and free my mind from being preoccupied with worrying about next week.

In addition, this process will define the small things that I wanted to do but didn’t, and I can often get a couple of those items done before I leave for the day and head into the weekend.

Give it a try!

Enjoy

P.S. We can be really thick at times. Well, let me speak for myself, I can be really thick. How many times will it take for me to do what I know needs to be done? What am I talking about? Caffeine and sugar.

• I am addicted.
• Have been addicted and re-addicted many times over.
• I have quit many times, felt better, but then let it eek back into my life (eventually getting re-addicted).

I have HUGE swings in energy and, honestly, I don’t think I have real energy right now - it is all artificially produced.

As of this moment, I am quitting again. No more caffeine and refined sugar or fake sugar. I mention this because if the blog takes on a harsh tone next week, you will know it is the withdrawing addict in me writing. the real me will be back soon!

Comments

[Phil Gerbyshak]

Great suggestion Lisa. I've been doing this for about 9 months now, ending my week with a plan for next week, and it really helps me stay ahead of the curve for the coming week.

[K. Todd Storch]

This is one of the "secrets" to keeping me sane. It is key to not only download and prepare for the next week, but to also get organized and download info/paper/emails, etc.

I use a Moleskine and usually on Friday I will update it based on the sections I have for my week. Also, good time to get emails in line (filed, trashed or acted upon); my Friday threshold in the InBox is about 40. Treat voicemail inbox the same way and get paperwork filed, trashed or forwarded.

Usually about a 45 minute project that is "cleansing".

Thanks!

Todd