1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of my Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: Good Morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: Today's tip is to try a shutdown ritual at the 4 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:22,320 Speaker 1: end of your work day. So confession time here. I've 5 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,639 Speaker 1: spent much of my career running my own business, and 6 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: even when I had an in the office job, I 7 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: was freelancing on the side, so my work day has 8 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 1: never been officially done. A home office facilitates this. I 9 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 1: can always go back in, and even when I became 10 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:39,879 Speaker 1: a parent and had to pick up a kid at 11 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: daycare or Sundays at her home, I'd often jump back 12 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 1: on after kid bedtime, and I'll do some work on 13 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 1: weekends as well if there's an opportunity to do so. 14 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,600 Speaker 1: The result is that I would really never turn off 15 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 1: my laptop, and this worked fine until it didn't. At 16 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 1: some point this past summer, my trustee MacBook Pro just 17 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: burned out. The folks at the Apple store were able 18 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: to fix it, but I learned my lesson. Now, at 19 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: least a few days per week, I officially close out 20 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: of everything and shut it down. Now I'm not saying 21 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 1: that happens at five pm, but it does happen at 22 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,560 Speaker 1: least an hour before I go to bed. This experience 23 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: has gotten me interested in the idea of shutdown rituals 24 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 1: in general. I think they're a great idea. People who 25 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: are interested in productivity will at least think about the 26 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: start of their work days and what they'd like to accomplish, 27 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: but the end of the work day can be all 28 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 1: over the map. And even if you do intend to 29 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 1: do a little more work at night after your kids 30 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:42,040 Speaker 1: go to bed or after you go to your softball practice, 31 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: a proper shutdown ritual can set you up for a 32 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 1: great evening and a great next day. So what should 33 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 1: it include? Well, first, it should start quite a while 34 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 1: before you actually intend to leave, an hour or so 35 00:01:56,560 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 1: before quitting time. Revisit the days to do list. What 36 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 1: absolutely needs to happen before tomorrow. You can either buckle 37 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:08,079 Speaker 1: down and get it done, or if you work at night, 38 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: sometimes you can consciously decide to block it in from 39 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: say eight thirty to nine thirty pm. But in any case, 40 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 1: you need to make a choice and a plan. If 41 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 1: something is not going to happen, just be honest about 42 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: it and whether it should get pushed to tomorrow or 43 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: here's the thought whether it actually needs to get done 44 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: at all. If there's anyone you need to speak to, 45 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 1: now would be a good time. If you leave these 46 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: conversations until the last possible minute, they will just delay 47 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 1: your trip outdoor About twenty minutes before quitting time, you 48 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: can save any work or send off anything that's supposed 49 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 1: to go in. Then you can spend a few minutes 50 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 1: reflecting on the day. What went well, how can you 51 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: capitalize on that, What needs to change, how can you 52 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: make that happen. Are you happy with how you spent 53 00:02:57,360 --> 00:02:59,920 Speaker 1: your time or would you like to rework your schedule? 54 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: Then spend a few minutes planning what needs to happen tomorrow. 55 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 1: Look at your calendar so you're familiar with the day's landscape. 56 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 1: When do you have appointments? How long will each take? 57 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: Do you need to do anything more to prepare for 58 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: these What other priorities do you have for the day? 59 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: List your top three or four to five at most. 60 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: How long will each of these things take? Put an 61 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 1: estimate next to each. Now look at the next day's 62 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: schedule and see where you can fit these things in. 63 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,640 Speaker 1: Taking a few minutes to do this allows you to 64 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: make strategic choices. For instance, if you have some work 65 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 1: that's going to take an hour and you have a 66 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: meeting at nine thirty am, you might decide to be 67 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 1: in your desk and working by eight thirty so you 68 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: can get it done. This means you don't have to 69 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: find an hour long slot later, which might become more 70 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: difficult as stuff comes up. Map out the day and 71 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: be sure to leave plenty of open space. Knowing the 72 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: plan means when you show up tomorrow, you won't waste 73 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: valuable time and mental energy deciding what to do. And yes, 74 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 1: schedules can change. Of course, they can change, but they 75 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 1: also might not change, so best to have a plan. 76 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: Then finally, think about your evening. What would make your 77 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,919 Speaker 1: evening feel good? If you and your family have plans, 78 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: that's great. If not, set an intention, maybe to call 79 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: a friend, lift weights in your basement, cook that slightly 80 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 1: more elaborate dinner you've been thinking about, or read fifty 81 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 1: pages in the novel you just picked up. When we 82 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 1: think through our personal time, it starts to seem bigger 83 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: in our mental accounting, which is good for reminding us 84 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: that we don't actually spend all our time working, even 85 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 1: if it sometimes feels like it, then you can grab 86 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 1: your things and walk out the door feeling good about 87 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:55,720 Speaker 1: your day. And you can do the same thing from 88 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: a home office too, even if you'll be going back in. 89 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: You can shut door and consciously consider yourself off the 90 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 1: clock for a while. If nothing else, your laptop will 91 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:11,039 Speaker 1: thank you. Do you have a shutdown ritual? Please let 92 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,679 Speaker 1: me know at Before Breakfast podcast at I heart media 93 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 1: dot com. In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, 94 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: and here's to making the most of our time. Hey, everybody, 95 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear from you. You can send me 96 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: your tips, your questions, or anything else. Just connect with 97 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 1: me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at Before Breakfast pod. 98 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 1: That's b the number four, then Breakfast p o D. 99 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: You can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast 100 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:51,599 Speaker 1: podcast at i heeart media dot com. That Before Breakfast 101 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 1: is spelled out with all the letters. Thanks so much, 102 00:05:54,520 --> 00:06:02,600 Speaker 1: I look forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast is 103 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: a production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts from 104 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 1: I heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 105 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.