Clear the Decks
Empty your inbox, drain the chat apps, name the urgent work, and plan tomorrow.
4 time blocks, 55 minutes in total.
Time blocks
- Clear email inbox: 20 min
Reply, archive or defer. Nothing stays unread - Clear Teams & Slack: 15 min
Answer the pings that block other people first - Define urgent tasks: 10 min
Write down what genuinely cannot wait - Plan tomorrow: 10 min
Pick tomorrow's first task before you log off
About this routine
An end of day work routine stops today's loose ends turning into tomorrow's surprises. This one takes 55 minutes and clears email, chat, the urgent list, and tomorrow's first task.
It starts with the biggest block, 20 minutes on email, replying, archiving or deferring so nothing is left unread. Then 15 minutes on Teams and Slack, answering the messages that are blocking someone else before anything optional.
Two short blocks close the day. 10 minutes to write down what genuinely cannot wait, and 10 minutes to pick tomorrow's first task before logging off. Starting tomorrow with that decision already made is the part that saves the most time, and a daily routine timer keeps the email block from swallowing the rest.
Why this routine works
- Leaves the inbox and chat apps empty before logging off
- Unblocks colleagues before they wait overnight
- Separates genuinely urgent work from noise
- Removes the morning question of what to start with
FAQ
What should you do at the end of the work day?
Clear the inbox, answer the messages blocking other people, write down what is genuinely urgent, and choose tomorrow's first task.
How long should an end of day routine take?
Under an hour. This one runs 55 minutes, with 20 of those spent on email.
Why plan tomorrow before you log off?
The decision is easier while today's context is still fresh, and it removes the slow start the next morning.