5 Ways to Prepare for Monday Before You Leave for the Weekend

September 4, 2018

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Chances are, you probably don’t want to spend your Friday afternoon thinking about the upcoming Monday morning.

However, according to Quartz, many top CEOs claim Friday holds the key to an efficient workweek. “My biggest secret for a productive Monday is what I do on Friday,” said Jon Rush, founder of C7 Device Recycle.

The work you accomplish on Friday doesn’t even have to be substantial, either; productivity expert Laura Vanderkam attests that only a few minutes of planning, whether it be for a presentation or meeting on Monday, can lead to a better outcome or performance while also putting your mind at ease when you finally do leave the office. And you’ll likely end up completing more than you set out to do anyway.

“If you want to write a novel, commit to writing 100 words a day,” says Vanderkam. “You’ll probably do more, since 100 words is nothing, but that low expectation gets you to your computer even on days when you don’t want to be there. If you’re able to get a head start on a task you’re dreading, you’ll not only be in a better place come Monday; you’ll have a more relaxing weekend, to boot.”

A survey by Accountemps found that only 3 percent of HR managers say Friday is the most productive day of the week for employees. However, to effectively prep for the upcoming week of work, consider taking these five small steps before you clock out for the weekend:

1. Create a Monday morning “hit list” of the first things that need to be accomplished, whether it’s an email you want to send or a phone call you need to make.
2. Take stock of what was left unfinished on your to-do list from the past week. Wrap up anything you can complete in two minutes.
3. Reflect on the larger goals that fell through the cracks this week.
4. Think about next week’s meetings. Are you ready for them? Set a timer for five minutes and take the smallest preparatory steps.
5. Unplug. Not checking email on Saturday and Sunday is integral to your sanity for next week, leaving you better rested for the busy Monday ahead.