June 1, 2012

Productivity – The Best Way to End a Friday Checklist

published this at 7:43 am

Great Weekends Start with Productivity

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Friday! Finally!
On a short week, it can seem to take even longer to get here and we can end up with a Friday that seems jammed packed with things we’re still trying to get done. And before we know it the weekend will again be upon us …

Don’t let it sneak up on you!

Rather than fall into this weekend still working, start a new productivity habit.
Set a plan that will end your Friday neatly, get your Monday optimized for productivity in the very best way so that your weekend can be your own.

It may take some practice to get it down perfectly, but if you get the habit of this checklist, you’ll find that you start your weekends and your Mondays more sweetly.

Productivity – The Best Way to End a Friday Checklist

Then consider the week closed, leave the office at work, give your brain a break, and have a weekend. What a great way to promote yourself and your brand to anyone who walks by on their way home for the weekend. It says a lot for your personal brand — almost everyone wishes their office looked like it could be in a magazine . . . Even if the only one it says it to is you — that’s plenty.

Woman in park working on computer
BigStock: Woman in Park on Computer


Whether you work in a building away from home or in your bedroom, a productivity boost will find you on Monday walking back into a space that’s ready to work in.

The idea is to end work on Friday so that if you open your on the weekend you might actually be refueling — talking to friends or watching a movie — rather than cleaning up details left over from the week you just left. Having a headstart on Monday can free the mind space to enjoy Saturday and Sunday.

How do you amp your productivity to mark the end of a Friday?

Be irresistible.
– ME “Liz” Strauss

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Filed under Productivity, Successful Blog | 16 Comments »


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16 Comments to “Productivity – The Best Way to End a Friday Checklist”

  1. June 1st, 2012 at 9:11 am
    Heidi Thorne said

    Though the past month has been filled with travel and a major reconstruction project, I try to reserve late Friday afternoon for hanging out with a special group of my online friends. It’s our virtual happy hour!

    So I try to wrap up and clean up everything for the weekend before then including the last check of email until Monday.

    Since I started doing this, my weekends have been a lot better and I actually look forward to Monday!

  2. June 1st, 2012 at 12:02 pm
    Rick Morgan said

    A good glass of wine!

  3. June 1st, 2012 at 1:25 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    HI Heidi!
    That’s what Fridays are for! What a great idea! :)

  4. June 1st, 2012 at 1:25 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Rick!
    Cheers to that! :)

  5. June 1st, 2012 at 5:22 pm
    soror Nishi said

    yep…or just pour a G&T if you are self-employed.

  6. June 1st, 2012 at 8:35 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Soror!
    Raising a glass! :)

  7. June 1st, 2012 at 10:24 pm
    Mila Araujo said

    A drive home on the scenic route watching the sun dance on buildings and set over the city. Sunshine is always a guaranteed way to change the mindset and really go home :) your advice is perfect, the best habit to end every work day is wih reflection on what you accomplished and a clear idea of what you will have on your agenda for the next work day ahead , then you can always leave work knowing exactly where you are. In the insurance industry it’s particularly important :)

  8. June 2nd, 2012 at 7:06 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Mila,
    I so agree. I try to find time for reflection every morning. The sunrise photos help me keep clear on my priorities. :)

  9. June 2nd, 2012 at 9:04 am
    Dana J Lange said

    I used to allow work to bleed into every part of my life: evenings, weekends, and at times my dread world. Yes, I was obsessed and it drove me to the edge more than once. Then I put boundaries on the “work world”. Now Friday evening is sacred as is Saturday and Sunday. The only way I have been able to do this is a 30 minute planning session on Friday. Great advice Liz.

  10. June 2nd, 2012 at 10:08 am
    Jeff Mayernik said

    This has been one of the biggest challenges since starting my own business. When I was ‘Corporate Sales-Dog’ my work and my life were so intertwined it was unreal. 7 am to 10 pm on days that end in ‘Y’, I was available by cell phone and email. Now I make a point to skip work on Saturday and Sunday and I feel better for it.

  11. June 2nd, 2012 at 7:54 pm
    Suzie Cheel said

    Love Heidi’s idea only so many of my online friends would be asleep on my Friday afternoon LOL

    Great suggestions Liz will file for next Friday

  12. June 3rd, 2012 at 8:28 am
    Greg Gazin said

    I like the “end your real work, early”! I often use Friday afternoons for the light stuff, for the quick “hello” calls that plant the seeds for the following week and to do the little things that I’ve been putting off all week.

  13. June 3rd, 2012 at 8:49 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Greg!
    I do that too!

  14. June 18th, 2012 at 2:18 am
    End-of-the-Week Productivity Tip | In Context MultiMedia said

    [...] Productivity – The Best Way to End a Friday Checklist | Liz Strauss at Successful Blog Set a plan that will end your Friday neatly, get your Monday optimized for productivity in the very best way so that your weekend can be your own. [...]

  15. June 18th, 2012 at 3:21 am
    Braam said

    Did just that last Friday. What an amazing weekend with the children and grand children.

    Braam

  16. June 18th, 2012 at 6:13 am
    Monday Motivation: Take the Initiative « Indigo Moods said

    [...] The Best Way to End a Friday Checklist (successful-blog.com) [...]

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