How to Get Through the Last Hour of Your Workday
For me, the workday has a predictable arc: those first great hours of opportunity and productivity; dinner; dead eyes / coma; revival, in which an hour or two has been worked; and then the last hour of trying not to push theOlympians curling with the cats .
I’m not alone: In a request to r / LifeProTips, they asked for advice on how to get through the last grueling hour of work , and got some pretty helpful responses, ranging from a snack (orange, some almonds) to a nap. … But for a definitive, research-backed answer, I turned to Daniel Pink, the best-selling author of business, productivity, and behavior, including his new book When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing . He emailed some tips on how to make the last stretch of the day more productive.
Take a break – but the right kind of break
Everyone knows that you can’t work long hours without stopping, especially if your work requires creativity or focus. Pink says: “Science shows that taking breaks is more important to restore our mood and mental acuity than we think. The best types of breaks are social, not solitary, mobile, not stationary, outside rather than inside, and completely detached, not half-apart. ” In other words, take a coworker and go for a short walk or make an appointment with a friend for coffee. “Talk about something other than work – and leave your phone.”
Schedule a Brainstorming Session
Early morning, say 6 a.m. to noon, is usually my most creative and focused time. (Once I watch the day’s news, it’s over.) But after that, I’m almost always ready to have a fresh cup of coffee and chat with colleagues. Pink says: “During the day and early evening we are usually less focused than in the morning. But we are also in a better mood. This combination of boosting mood and reducing restraint makes for a great time for creative, repetitive and free discussion. “
To keep a journal
You keep track of your exercise, nutrition, finances … why not work? Pink recommends taking the last few minutes of your day to write down what you’ve accomplished that day. “The work of Teresa Amabile at Harvard has shown that the best day-to-day motivator at work is making progress in meaningful work. But without tracking our “affairs”, we often do not know if we are making progress. Ending the day with a record of what you’ve accomplished can encode the whole day more positively. ” This can be especially helpful if you are the type of person who feels bad about not having a productive day.
Steer the wheels downhill
I learned about this a few years ago – I think from “ Complete Your Dissertation in 15 Minutes a Day” : end the day by setting yourself up for success the next morning. In my case, if I am working on a letter, I stop in the middle of a thought and then take it right during the next working session.
Pink says: “Take advantage of the Zeigarnik effect — our tendency to remember unfinished tasks better than completed ones. So if you are writing something, stop in the middle of a sentence. (Ernest Hemingway used this trick.) You can keep working on it. And when you return to the office the next morning, you will have an instant boost. ” This means you end your day on a high note – you’re busy doing something productive! – and you can jump right the next day.
Good advice to everyone. But Reddit is right: Don’t forget the wonders of snacking and / or naps. If you’re tired or your blood sugar drops , this last hour will be dramatic . And it helps to relax a little from time to time – sometimes your brain needs a break. If that means 10 minutes of video with cats, so be it. You will be ready to get down to business tomorrow.