Nothing makes me want to spring into action more than on a Friday. My productivity increases by about 40 or 50 percent as I try to crank out as much as I can before the weekend starts. It has a lot to do with me trying to get the most out of my weekend (leaving my work behind) and leaning into work-life integration. I’m guessing it’s likely the same for you.
Here are a few things that you can do to maximize your productivity throughout the week (not just on Fridays):
- Set parameters and goals in terms of the work that you want to accomplish. The more solid your planning, the better able you’ll be to accomplish it all. Decide which hours you want to work and what you plan to finish during those hours. Get specific here.
- Figure out what you can do each day. Try to pick 2-3 larger tasks for every day and fill that in with smaller tasks when you can. I fidn that if I give myself a deadline for several tasks each day, I will have an increased focus on them and get them done by the end of the day.
- Break things down in terms of what has to be done, and what can wait. I have a running list. I scan it at the start and end of every day. I decide what’s critical to get done and what can wait. That process helps me to prioritize all of the things on my endless to-do list, getting them done before their deadlines.
- Ensure that you are also taking time for yourself. Despite my busy schedule, I always find time to get to pilates, row on my rowing machine, and take care of myself. Self-care is critical, particularly when you’re busy. The more that you take care of yourself, the more productive you’ll be.
- Try to thwart yourself from getting sucked in by time sucks. We all have those things that steal our time and don’t really provide much bang for the buck. Recognize your time-wasting patterns and do you best to limit spending time on things that don’t give you much in return.
- Work according to your mood. I have a lot to get done so if I’m not in a mood to work on a certain task, I understand that there are plenty of others things that I need to do, so I switch to one that appeals to me more in that moment. There is a time and a place for it all.
- Set yourself up for the following week. At the end of every week, I make a list of what I need to get done the following week. It’s all about time management and organization here. Zoom out and look at the big picture while you’re attending to the details.
- Don’t forget to take small breaks. If you don’t stop to get up and move around every once in awhile, you’re more likely to become burned out and to be less productive as a result. Take a break from time to time, and find yourself getting more done, not less.
- Allow some time for fun. All work and no play definitely can make your daily routine dull. Ensure that you are taking some time to laugh and indulge here and there in order to keep your spirits up and get you through the week. You and everyone around you will thank you for it!