7 Things Facility Managers Can Do On Friday To Make Monday Better

by James McDonald on July 24, 2014
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We are all guilty of it at some point in our careers—that Friday afternoon lull where our brains shut down and we gaze at the computer screen daydreaming about what’s in store for the weekend. If you look to your teammates for inspiration, facility managers will often be met with the same blank stare.

It is a well-known fact that Fridays are the least productive day of the week. But there are many simple things you can do on your Friday to shake up your routine and maximize productivity. This variance can help you get excited about returning to work on Monday morning. Follow our 7 favorite steps and you may even find you are able to “sign off” entirely for the weekend and regroup—an important part of life that many of us have lost sight of over the years.

1. Get at least one major project accomplished. Like most facility managers, you likely have several projects going at once. It is tempting to look at those tasks and say “Oh, I will just pick that up on Facility managers have a long list of to-dosMonday.” Don’t fall into the Monday morning trap. Take a look at your list of ongoing projects and commit to getting one completed by the end of the day. You may even find yourself in a rhythm and decide to start work on another once the first is finished. Either way, you will sign-off for the weekend with the satisfaction of knowing you have one less thing to do come Monday.

2. Prioritize your to-do list. Mondays can be pretty hectic. There are emails to answer, new hires to assist and customers to call back. Not to mention facility managers have a giant list of everyday duties to perform. On Friday, take a look at what you are facing in the upcoming week and prioritize those items. Sure, there will be some unexpected surprises thrown your way, but your organization will help you in determining where those surprises fit in and who to delegate tasks to.

3. Organize your upcoming week. Once you have a prioritized list, plan out your week accordingly. In mapping out your week, keep in mind that Mondays and Tuesdays are the most productive days of the week, so plan the most difficult projects for those days. You may even find yourself inspired to tackle a few of the projects by the end of the day. When planning, don’t forget to set aside some time for the unexpected and, whenever possible, schedule meetings for later in the week.

4. Change up your normal routine. We all have things that regularly distract us from our work. Take some time to reflect on your work routine and identify those distractions. Armed with an organized list, you can now brainstorm for alternatives that may help minimize or eliminate those distractions. This could be something as simple as sifting through your emails Sunday evening, to meeting a colleague/friend for coffee to discuss current projects. It may take a little time to identify these triggers and their solutions, but once you do, you will find your Mondays run a lot smoother.

Plan your Fridays to vary completely from your regular routine. Go to lunch with someone you see as an inspiration or take a new route to the coffee machine so you run into a different group of people. This is a great way to meet those you might not normally come in contact with, leading to new relationships and collaborations.

5. Send out follow-up emails. Fridays are a great day to touch base with your customers and colleagues, notifying them of the status your projects. This not only clears your mind (and your Monday) so you can enjoy the weekend, it helps your contacts better enjoy their weekend as well.

6. Treat yourself. Have you ever felt the excitement of finding a $20 bill in the jacket you wore last weekend? Or the gift card you put away for safe keeping and forgot about? Hide something special for yourself Friday afternoon and do your best to forget about it. When you do find it again, it will be like finding that golden egg on the Easter egg hunt.

7. Do something nice for someone else. End your week on a high note by planning a gesture of appreciation towards one (or all) of your teammates. This may be a box of donuts for the office or a gift card to your colleague’s favorite coffee shop. Make your plans Friday afternoon so you can prepare over the weekend. This gesture will take little effort on your part yet will start your co-worker’s week off on a positive note. And your excitement will keep you looking forward to work all weekend long.

By following these few simple steps, you position yourself for a smooth and productive Monday. This allows you to end your week on a high note, hopefully passing this positive energy on to those around you. What steps do you take to make the most of your Fridays?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James McDonald

James McDonald is a sports enthusiast, brother in Christ and once swam in a tank with the infamous TV sharks.

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