In a job market rife with uncertainty, employees have codified one practice to let them start the weekend early: work-from- home Fridays.
The great remote-working experiment has given people the chance to change their schedules and get a jump on the house chores, hobbies, and family time that would have previously been on Saturday. The perfect end to your work week can be achieved with some productivity hacks.
Start early. A sunrise wakeup is the secret sauce to start the weekend on Friday. James Diel, the chief executive officer of Textel, leaves early. It requires a bit of practice, but watching sunrise while I write emails with a coffee in hand is relaxing and helps set up a great weekend that starts midafternoon rather than early evening.
Load your schedule. For some, protecting Friday afternoons means shifting the intensity to other days. The CEO of a free financial-education program says he tries to be as efficient as possible early in the week.
Don't attend meetings. One Friday afternoon meeting can destroy a plan. Cook, the president of Illuminate Labs, suggests meetings for the other work days. If there is a last-minute request or Friday is the only time available, I will usually schedule the meeting for Friday morning so I can stick to my ideal work-from- home Friday routine.
Some employers are giving up meeting-free time. Free-form Fridays begin at 1 p.m. at Murphy O'Brien. Brandon Muratalla, an account supervisor at the agency, says that they have the freedom to book an afternoon workout class or take an extended lunch.
One subtle strategy is to suggest a group ritual that is inherently a morning activity, such as breakfast, when bosses insist on a Friday team meeting. A virtual breakfast club meeting is one of the favorite Friday traditions. It is a fun way to get everyone into the spirit of the weekend while they are at work.
Remove chores. No one wants to have a lot of housework over the weekend. Brandon Brown, the CEO of a management platform, likes to do chores during his downtime, such as watering plants or washing dishes.
One tactic is to finish work early and then attack laundry and bills at the same time. Stryjecki says he gets his work done by midafternoon and then gets a head start on housework.
Work in a scenic area. Friday is a desk-free opportunity after a week of commute and mask. The stunning ocean view in front of me is what motivates me to work outside. She plays movies in the background if she needs office equipment. You feel like you are almost having a chill day when you watch positive, uplifting movies.
Some Friday warriors work at friends homes. The co-founder of Drop.io and Solitaired prefers a balcony or the beach to work outside. The latter requires creativity. The setup that I have perfect is that I sit under an umbrella to provide shade and a wind block, and then use my AirPods for any calls. I bought a compressed air can that makes it easier to get sand out of my keyboard.
Enjoy favorite food and drink. Friday can be motivating if you have an enjoyable menu. Zakiyya Gafoor is a virtual marketer and designer. An afternoon tea party is what I like to do on Friday. It motivates me to finish projects quicker and I enjoy a nice afternoon tea as a way to wind down. Specialty beers are also popular.
Schedule time for hobbies. It's easy to dive into a favorite activity from home. She says that the activity is birdshazaming. The co- founder of a public-relations firm walks around her neighborhood with an app that identifies birds. After the last client call is over, it is fun to go look for birds that I might not usually find. Others choose to go to the gym. The owner of a salon equipment company does virtual lunch dates. She says she video calls her friends.
Fit in family time. Tim Connon, founder of life insurance company ParmountQuote, says that he and his wife go out to dinner on Friday. Others take a walk with partners or kids. The CEO of a marketing and PR agency says that Friday afternoon has become family time for her and her husband. Before the happy-hour and dinner crowds rush in, we wander around Brooklyn trying out different restaurants. Some people stay in. Nettie Owens, president of time management consultant Sappari Solutions, likes to hang out with her kids when they get home from school. We have snacks, chat, and sometimes watch a show.
