1 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 1: Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the New Corner Office, 2 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: the podcast where we share strategies for thriving in the 3 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: new world of work where location and hours are more 4 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 1: flexible than in the past. Today's tip is about what 5 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: to do when you finish early. There are ways you 6 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 1: can invest that extra time to yield dividends in the future. 7 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 1: It's a good idea for everyone, and especially remote workers, 8 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: to measure an honest day's work by what you've accomplished, 9 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:39,520 Speaker 1: not the amount of time you've sat at your desk. 10 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,600 Speaker 1: With that mindset, you'll sometimes finish your priorities for the 11 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 1: day before you generally call it quits. What do you 12 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 1: do then, Well, you've got lots of options. First consider 13 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: getting ahead, start on and maybe complete your top priority 14 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 1: for tomorrow. It feels great to be a day or 15 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: more ahead of schedule on meeting your goals. This creates 16 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: a buffer for those times when your day does not 17 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: go as planned. Just like building in white space to 18 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:14,839 Speaker 1: your calendar, staying ahead allows you to do your best 19 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: work without feeling pressed for time. If you're already a 20 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: few days ahead, or if your work can't really be 21 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 1: done in advance, you can use extra time for self 22 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:30,320 Speaker 1: directed professional development. Read a trade publication or a book 23 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: on a topic that pertains to your job. If you 24 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: need ideas, try browsing the business section of your local 25 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 1: library or bookstore. Ask colleagues for recommendations. Another option is 26 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: to use extra time for a self directed project, perhaps 27 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: an idea for a new product or service, or an 28 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 1: improvement to operations that you think will benefit your organization. 29 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 1: When you finish early, work on developing and testing your concept. 30 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: That way, you can press and a plan to your 31 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 1: boss rather than just an idea. Because people are a 32 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: good use of time and days you finish your work early, 33 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 1: you can invest in your professional relationships. Reach out to 34 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: a friend from a former job to say hello, or 35 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: share an article or podcast with a colleague who would 36 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: enjoy it. Of course, others may not have finished their 37 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: work early, so picking up the phone hoping for an 38 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: hour long chat is probably not the best idea for 39 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 1: three pm on a Tuesday, But a quick conversation can work. 40 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 1: And if your colleague happens to be free for a 41 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:42,519 Speaker 1: virtual coffee break at three o'clock on a Tuesday, well 42 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:46,920 Speaker 1: that's great too. Building a career is a marathon, not 43 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 1: a sprint and sustainability is important, so another option for 44 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 1: those days when you've finished early is too simply call 45 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 1: it a day, go for a walk, read a novel, 46 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: call your sister. Although workplaces vary in many contexts, you 47 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: don't have to stay glued to your desk until quitting 48 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: time if you've already done what you need to do. 49 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: This is not junior high. There are no bills telling 50 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:20,360 Speaker 1: you when you're allowed to leave. The Next time you 51 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: finish early, don't just scroll through email and rustle your papers. 52 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 1: Make the most of the time, whether you get ahead, 53 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 1: build your skills, pursue a pet project, nourish relationships, or 54 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: just call it a day. Don't just pass the time, 55 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: make the most of it. What do you do when 56 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 1: you finish early? You can let me know at Laura 57 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: at Laura Vanderkam dot com. In the meantime, this is Laura. 58 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening, and here's the succeeding in the New 59 00:03:54,800 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: Corner Office. The New corn Our Office is a production 60 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 1: of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts, visit the i 61 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your 62 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: favorite shows. M