The last 30 minutes of your workday could be the slowest if you keep staring at the clock or clicking in and out of computer tabs. We understand the last 30 minutes seem like ages to pass, but a glass of water or a walk around cannot help the clock move faster.
Some people stay too occupied till the last moment at work, and some remain less occupied and wait for the clock to move. You may not believe, but the last 30 minutes at work are the most crucial time day. This is the only time you get between two hectic days when you can analyse your performance and plan the next day.
If you lack motivation or feel too suffocated at work, here is a list of things you can do to use the last 30 minutes of your work day fruitfully:
#1 Organise your work emails
According to a survey, an average worker spends around 6.3 hours a day checking work related emails. On Mondays, this number is even higher, as many of us do not want to get indulged in work on weekends. Therefore, devoting the last 30 minutes of your day at the office to clean and organise your email inbox can be productive and helpful.
Also, well-organised emails are less disturbing and keep you away from sending trashy email messages, out of frustration. Some of the tips to organise your emails are:
- Unsubscribing useless newsletters.
- Create separate folders or labels for emails from different departments and different clients.
- Delete old, space consuming emails and make your inbox clutter free.
- Bookmark the emails you still need to work on.
#2 Organise your desktop and desk
Utilising the last 30 minutes in arranging your desk and your desktop can make your next day at work quite comfortable and systemized. Working on a clean and tidy desk and desktop will keep you active and energetic. Also, organised places boost your creativity and make you more efficient. You will be able to find important documents easily, which will eventually make you less tired.
#3 Check what you have achieved
To understand what you should do tomorrow, you should review thoroughly what you have accomplished today. If you can take out even 2-3 minutes to review your work throughout the day, you can calculate what you have achieved and plan on what you need to cover. If you get to know your achievement is more than what you planned for, you will be left with a happy and winning feeling.
Also, calculating what went right and wrong throughout the day, makes you more knowledgeable and gives you strength to work harder.
#4 Manage urgent communications
Even if you are done for the day, conversations keep moving. The last 30 minutes of your work day, is like a test for you, where you need to decide which communication requires urgent attention and what can wait for some time.
Find out the most vital communications and messages that you should reply to and shift the rest to the next day. If you are smart enough, you should transfer long and sensitive communications to next morning. This type of communications requires both time and concentration. Hence they should not be replied at the end of the day. Deferring length but meaningful conversations also give you think and respond strategically.
#5 Update your To-Do list
Take out 5-10 minutes from your last 30 minutes at work, to set up your to-do list for the next day. This way you will be double sure you have completed all your tasks for the day, and you will also have a plan about how to accomplish the next day at work.
#6 Log out of all accounts
You should make sure you sign out of all work-related accounts including your work email and chat box on your mobile. A real break of 8-9 hours from work every day is important for both your health and work efficiency. This break time will re-energise you to take up more important tasks, the next day.
If possible also disable all the chat and email notifications from your phone and switch to an auto-responder. The autoresponder will take of your important emails and let your clients know you will be back soon.
#7 Reduce mental clutter
By the end of the day if you have anything that is blocking your mind, use 5-10 minutes to write it down on a piece of paper. Anything important that you need to remember, if written on paper, will help you stay relaxed. Once you are done with your to-do list, write down the important tasks on a piece of paper and leave for the day.
#8 Say goodbye and boost yourself
Your team is like your family, with whom you spend almost nine hours a day, 54 hours a week and approximately 200+ hours a month. Without distracting those who are still working, say a friendly goodbye to your boss, colleagues and other team members. This way you will be able to build a healthy rapport with your team. A warm goodbye will not only inform your team, which you are leaving for the day, but it will show your team is important to you.
While you leave for your home keep a smile on your face, to spread an upbeat vibe for your co-workers. A smiling face at the beginning as well as the end of the day also boost your psychological health. Successful people make sure they leave a good impression over their surrounding before the day ends. So that they can start the next day on a positive note.
Once your day is over, you should leave you workspace on a good note. The temptation to linger around after work hours is not a good sign. Successful people understand how to maintain the work-life balance. Therefore, if you do not want to put a limit on your success and energy, you should never stay in your office without any fruitful reason.
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