Why You Need A Shutdown Routine (And How You Can Create One)
Did you know that how you end your workday not only impacts how you feel the rest of the evening, but how your next day will go as well?
Having a plan for how you end your workday is a vital (and simple) way to help you relax after work and help your focus and productivity for the next.
In other words, you need a shutdown routine if you don't have one. It's easy to create and implement and leads to great results.
The question then becomes, what should your shutdown routine consist of? The answer to that varies based on what you do, but by answering the following question, you can begin to figure out what might work for you.
What would best help you start working right away?
Wherever your workspace is, what are the things that would best keep you focused and ready to go at the beginning of your workday?
Regardless of when you actually get up in the morning, the early part of your day is when you are most focused, energized, and productive. So don't waste your energy and effort on getting set up and organized when that is an easy task you can do at the end of the previous day.
For me, my current shutdown routine consists of doing five things:
Clearing out my inbox
All tasks on my task list are completed or moved
Setting my calendar for the next day
Closing out all internet browser tabs
Cleaning up and organizing my office
I schedule 30 minutes at the end of my workday for all of this to happen. Maybe some of these would be helpful (or not) for you. Here is why each of these items is on my shutdown routine.
Clearing out my inbox
I keep my inbox email at zero, so it's important for me to set aside specific times to check and stay on top of it.
I only check my email twice a day, around lunchtime and at the end of my workday during my shutdown routine.
This is the main reason I schedule 30 minutes for my shutdown routine, as the three other items on my list are relatively quick.
Clearing my task list
I use Todoist as my task list manager. I ensure there are no more outstanding tasks left to do for that day. If there are, I reschedule them for tomorrow or for another day. Because all of my tasks have due dates, it is easy to see if there were any tasks that were not completed.
Setting my calendar for the next day
This is one of the biggest things I do to boost my productivity. Making sure my following workday is all planned out ensures I stay focused on the task at hand throughout the day and am proactive with my time.
During my shutdown routine, I review my next day's calendar and fill in any missing holes.
Closeout all internet browser tabs
It is not uncommon for me to have 10 or more browser tabs open at all times. I have no idea why I do this but I know I am not alone!
By closing all of my tabs out at the end of the day, it forces me not to use my tabs as a task list. It ensures I handle every tab I currently have open so that I can start the next day focused and ready to go.
Cleaning up and organizing my office
If there are any loose papers, trash, or items out of place, I clean it all up before I leave. It is much easier to start work the next day in a clean environment than a disorganized one. Because I do this every day, it often takes less than a minute to do.
What routines would be helpful for you?
My shutdown routine is included in my schedule every day and isn't something I skip. Even if I have a lot going on, I will stay a little later or squeeze something else off my calendar to ensure every item gets completed.
The good news is that you can likely come up with an effective and helpful shutdown routine in only five minutes and add or takeaway and item or two after a few days of trying it.
Go ahead and write a few things down that will help you start focused and ready to go tomorrow. Your tomorrow self will be glad you did.