The Trouble With Friday: Is Your Afternoon Wasted?
Friday is usually a great time to be in the office for employees. Companies that still have strict dress codes may go casual, people let less things bother them. There could be something in the office being celebrated or maybe it is openly acceptable to slack off “TGIF!”. What about the rest of us?
The business owner who works from home or co-working space doesn’t often share these same “perks”. So how do you get the most out of your Friday afternoons?
First, consider if you work over the weekend. When I first started out as a virtual assistant it didn’t make sense to work Friday afternoons because none of my clients were. Instead I ended my work week on around noon and then began it Sunday around 6pm.
This worked for both me and my clients. Everything was done by Friday afternoon and Sunday we would figure out the game plan for the week. Instead of wasting time on Monday morning trying to sync up we already knew what needed to be done. I could begin my day at 5am if I wanted no matter when my client started theirs.
Second, change what you work on Friday afternoon. If you don’t want to work over the weekend it is perfectly fine. I’ve learned from traveling abroad that working Sunday night no longer works for me. It doesn’t make sense either.
Everything starts later in South America than in the States. If I ended my day at noon to start the weekend early I would have hours of wasted time waiting to have dinner with friends. The nights start so late here. Plus, if I want to enjoy time with friends on Sunday I would miss the opportunity by working. Something they would never do.
Finally, consider what your Friday’s are for. Don’t start new projects. The idea can be too mentally draining. Set yourself up for Monday morning. Anything you would normally do over the weekend or on Monday to hit the ground running begin Friday.
Not only does it feel good to have the next week prepped and ready to go, it makes Friday afternoons more fun. It can be overwhelming to think about all the work to be done next week on Friday afternoon. However, it is very exciting to plan next week now. Planning puts the wheels in motion. It’s like getting a head start!
If all of this doesn’t excite you the way it does me, consider getting a virtual assistant to help. For every job you hate there is a virtual assistant that loves the work.
Because you can’t do it all yourself…….. Melissa Smith, The PVA is the bestselling author of Hire the Right Virtual Assistant. To learn more about working with the right Virtual Assistant contact Melissa here.
