1 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning. 2 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's 3 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: tip is to try a shutdown ritual at the end 4 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: of your workday. So confession time here. I've spent much 5 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: of my career running my own business, and even when 6 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: I had an in the office job, I was freelancing 7 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 1: on the side, so my workday has never been officially done. 8 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 1: A home office facilitates this. I can always go back in. 9 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: Even when I became a parent and had to pick 10 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:42,240 Speaker 1: up a kid at daycare or Sunday sitter home. I'd 11 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: often jump back on after kid bedtime, and I'll do 12 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:48,160 Speaker 1: some work on weekends as well if there's an opportunity 13 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:51,520 Speaker 1: to do so. The result is that I would really 14 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: never turn off my laptop, and this worked fine until 15 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: it didn't. At some point this past summer, my trusty 16 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: MacBook Pro just burned out. The folks at the Apple 17 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: store were able to fix it, but I learned my lesson. Now, 18 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:08,759 Speaker 1: at least a few days per week, I officially close 19 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 1: out of everything and shut it down. Now I'm not 20 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: saying that happens at five pm, but it does happen 21 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 1: at least an hour before I go to bed. This 22 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: experience has gotten me interested in the idea of shut 23 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 1: down rituals in general. I think they're a great idea. 24 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 1: People who are interested in productivity will at least think 25 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: about the start of their workdays and what they'd like 26 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 1: to accomplish, but the end of the workday can be 27 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 1: all over the map. And even if you do intend 28 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: to do a little more work at night after your 29 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: kids go to bed or after you go to your 30 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 1: softball practice, a proper shutdown ritual can set you up 31 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 1: for a great evening and a great next day. So 32 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: what should it include? Well, first, it should start quite 33 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 1: a while before you actually intend to leave, an hour 34 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: or so before quitting time. Revisit the days to do list. 35 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 1: What absolutely needs to happen before tomorrow. You can either 36 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 1: buckle down and get it done, or if you work 37 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: at nights, sometimes you can consciously decide to block it 38 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 1: in from say eight thirty to nine thirty pm. But 39 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 1: in any case, you need to make a choice and 40 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: a plan. If something is not going to happen, just 41 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: be honest about it and whether it should get pushed 42 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:26,799 Speaker 1: to tomorrow or here's the thought whether it actually needs 43 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: to get done at all. If there's anyone you need 44 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: to speak to, now would be a good time. If 45 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 1: you leave these conversations until the last possible minute, they 46 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 1: will just delay your trip out door About twenty minutes 47 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 1: before quitting time, you can save any work or send 48 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 1: off anything that's supposed to go in. Then you can 49 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: spend a few minutes reflecting on the day. What went well, 50 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,639 Speaker 1: how can you capitalize on that, What needs to change, 51 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 1: how can you make that happen. Are you happy with 52 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: how you spent your time or would you like to 53 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 1: rework your schedule? Then spend a few minutes planning what 54 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: needs to happen tomorrow. Look at your calendar so you're 55 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: familiar with the day's landscape. When do you have appointments? 56 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: How long will each take? Do you need to do 57 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 1: anything more to prepare for these What other priorities do 58 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: you have for the day? List your top three or 59 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 1: four to five at most. How long will each of 60 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: these things take? Put an estimate next to each. Now 61 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: look at the next day's schedule and see where you 62 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 1: can fit these things in. Taking a few minutes to 63 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: do this allows you to make strategic choices For instance, 64 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: if you have some work that's going to take an 65 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 1: hour and you have a meeting at nine thirty am, 66 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: you might decide to be in your desk and working 67 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: by eight thirty so you can get it done. This 68 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 1: means you don't have to find an hour long slot later, 69 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 1: which might become more difficult as stuff comes up. Map 70 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: out the day and be sure to leave plenty of 71 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 1: open space. Knowing the plan means when you show up tomorrow, 72 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 1: you won't waste valuable time and mental energy deciding what 73 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 1: to do. And yes, schedules can change. Of course, they 74 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 1: can change, but they also might not change, so best 75 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:18,160 Speaker 1: to have a plan. Then finally, think about your evening. 76 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: What would make your evening feel good. If you and 77 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 1: your family have plans, that's great. If not, set an intention, 78 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 1: maybe to call a friend, lift weights in your basement, 79 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 1: cook that slightly more elaborate dinner you've been thinking about, 80 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: or read fifty pages in the novel you just picked up. 81 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: When we think through our personal time, it starts to 82 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 1: seem bigger in our mental accounting, which is good for 83 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: reminding us that we don't actually spend all our time working, 84 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 1: even if it sometimes feels like it. Then you can 85 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 1: grab your things and walk out the door feeling good 86 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 1: about your day. And you can do the same thing 87 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,360 Speaker 1: from a home office too, even if you'll be going 88 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 1: back in. You can shut the door and consciously consider 89 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 1: yourself off the clock for a while. If nothing else, 90 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 1: your laptop will thank you. Do you have a shutdown ritual? 91 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 1: Please let me know at Before Breakfast podcast at iHeartMedia 92 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 1: dot com. In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, 93 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: and here's to making the most of our time. Hey, everybody, 94 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,359 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear from you. You can send me 95 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:35,039 Speaker 1: your tips, your questions, or anything else. Just connect with 96 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:39,480 Speaker 1: me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at Before Breakfast Pod. 97 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 1: That's b E the number four then Breakfast pod. You 98 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast podcast 99 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 1: at iHeartMedia dot com. That Before Breakfast is spelled out 100 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,840 Speaker 1: with all the letters. Thanks so much, should I look 101 00:05:54,839 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 1: forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast is a production 102 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:08,599 Speaker 1: of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, 103 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.