You may have a routine to start your workday, like checking email over coffee or reviewing the day’s top priorities. But what about the end of your workday? How you end your day is just as important as how you kick things off. A shutdown ritual or short routine you follow at the end of the day can help you close open loops and set yourself up in a better spot for your next workday.

A post on the Todoist blog recommends that everyone has a work shutdown ritual. This way, rather than feeling frazzled going into the evening or the weekend, you’ll know that you’ve reviewed every incomplete task or project and that you have a plan in place for it.  In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we share some ideas from the Todoist blog on how you can create your own shutdown ritual.

  1. Clean up your physical and digital workspaces. Staying organized is probably the oldest, most boring trick in the book, the post says. Research shows that physical clutter can be detrimental to both our mental health and productivity. Digital clutter, like random documents and screenshots on your home screen, can also add to your stress. The Todoist post advises taking a minute to tidy your desk and close your tabs at the end of each workday.

  2. Review what you’ve done. Take a look at what you accomplished. Many people measure progress in terms of long-term goals and big milestones. The problem with that, according to the post, is that those only happen rarely. Take just 5 minutes at the end of the day to review what you’ve done.

  3. Write out tomorrow’s to-do list. This end-of-day habit can boost your productivity by helping you identify what big-picture goals you should focus on next. According to the Todoist post, starting your day with a clear, prioritized to-do list cuts down on the number of decisions you’ll have to make early in the day, freeing up precious supplies of self-control for moving your important projects forward.

  4. Set yourself up to “eat your frog” first thing. This means doing your most difficult, most important task of the day first. The Todoist post says you can do your future self a favor by using your end-of-workday routine to make it as easy as possible to get started on the next day’s most important thing.

  5. End on a high note. You may not feel like you had a super productive day, but you can still end your day on a positive note. Don’t beat yourself up if you didn’t accomplish everything you set out to do. Also, show some gratitude. The Todoist post says this is one of the quickest ways to boost your mood and feelings of well-being.

Do more than just tidy up your workspace at the end of the day. Take time to review your progress and break down tasks you may not have gotten to today. Then, map out your next workday, putting your most important work at the top of your list. Try adding a consistent end time and maybe doing something nice for a co-worker. You’ll finish your day calmer and start stronger the next workday.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: A post from the Todoist blog.