Fundamentals of Working - #5 Closing Ceremony

We often finish the working day and simply stop.  The laptop closes. We pick up our bags. We walk through the front door, but have we actually finished?

Just as an Opening Ceremony helps you start your working day intentionally, a Closing Ceremony helps you make sense of what has happened and consciously transition into whatever comes next.

1. Acknowledge what you've achieved

Before you rush off, take a moment to look back.  Highlight, tick or simply acknowledge the things you have accomplished during the day.

It doesn't have to be a huge achievement. It might be:

• a difficult conversation you've had
• a piece of work you've finished
• a decision you've made
• someone you've helped
• something you've finally got started

Achievement underpins motivation.

Giving yourself a little mental high-five can create that positive end-of-day feeling and remind you that you have made progress.

2. Give yourself a GAIL

We are often much better at noticing what we haven't done than what we have.

So take a few minutes to reflect.

G – Gratitude
What were you grateful for today?

A – Achievement
What did you achieve?

I – Improvement
What could you have done differently or improved?

L – Learning
What did you learn?

It's a simple way of turning the working day into something you can learn from rather than simply leave behind.

3. Create your own 'Shut Down'

Cal Newport, author of Deep Work, talks about a Shutdown Ritual — deliberately bringing your working day to an end so that work doesn't continue occupying your mind.

I love the simplicity of this, your computer has a Shut Down button.  Perhaps you need one too. Press the mental button.

Work is finished.

You can come back to it tomorrow.

4. Give yourself time to transition

In Strong Ground, Brené Brown uses the metaphor of a lock on the River Thames.

A boat cannot simply continue on its journey. The water has to rise or fall before it can move into the next section of the river.

It takes time. It cannot be rushed.

I think our working lives can be the same.

We often move straight from:

WORK → HOME

without allowing ourselves any time in between.

·       If you work from home, walk around the block before you open the door to your home.

·       If you've been in the office, sit in the car for ten minutes before driving away.

·       Take 20 minutes for yourself.

·       Read something. Walk. Listen to music. Do absolutely nothing.

·       Whatever works for you.

Give yourself time for the water to rise or fall.

A good transition means you arrive home as you — rather than bringing the whole working day through the front door with you.

And when we transition effectively, we are not just being kinder to ourselves.

We can be better company for the people around us too.

5. Leave tomorrow a little easier

Finally, take a few minutes to create a clean slate.

·       Tidy your desk.

·       Close unnecessary tabs.

·       Clear your desktop.

·       Put things where you will find them tomorrow.

·       Write down anything that needs your attention so you don't have to keep holding it in your head.

Don't make tomorrow's you work harder than necessary.

Then shut down.

Close the laptop.

And finish.

The Fundamentals of Working

Perhaps working effectively isn't about finding another productivity hack.

Perhaps it is about creating better beginnings, better habits and better endings.

How you start matters.
How you work matters.
How you finish matters too.

Opening Ceremony → Personal Brand → Email & Teams → Meetings → Closing Ceremony

Five simple fundamentals.

Small changes.

Big Impact every day.