Don't quit until quitting time

No need to waste the last few minutes

Once, when I was helping out in a child’s class, I witnessed the teacher pull a time management master move. We were in the last ten minutes of the day. Buses were starting to be called. I can imagine that a lot of people would have phoned it in at that point. But she had the kids doing an activity where they were still learning even as they were gathering their bags and leaving in small groups. Her perspective was that ten minutes a day is still ten minutes. Over 180 school days that is 1800 minutes which is 30 hours. You can learn a lot in 30 hours! There was no need to quit until quitting time.

I think that’s a wise perspective. I know that as I get toward the end of the work day, it’s easy to discount the last few minutes. Maybe I need to be in the car to go get a kid at 4:15 p.m. So, come 4, I’m looking at the clock. But those fifteen minutes are usable. I might not be able to do anything deep, but I can do something.

Start tomorrow early

One thing I find good to do in this almost-quitting-time window is all the little things I’ve scheduled for tomorrow. As I near the end of any given work day, I tend to make my to-do list for the next day. Some of these will be big things, or time specific things, or things requiring a lot of concentration. But other stuff will be little tasks like sending an email, filling out a form, or paying a bill. At the end of the day, I can create a mini batching time and do those things. Suddenly, the next day looks lighter — and like I’m ahead of the game. Sure, those things only would have taken fifteen minutes the next day too, but now that’s fifteen minutes I don’t have to spend on them. Time starts to feel more spacious.

Pay attention to how it ends

Maybe you can try the same. If there’s a time you normally leave work (and leaving early won’t be a big win — because you catch a certain train, or pick up a kid at a certain time) challenge yourself to fill the time right up until that moment. Some days, you won’t need any help with this because the day is crazy. But if not, try not to think hey, this can just wait for tomorrow for stuff that could, in fact, be finished before then.

This goes for social gatherings too. I always like when people pay as much attention to endings as beginnings. It shows a certain thoughtfulness. Instead of people just drifting out at the end of an event, maybe there’s a final activity, or treat for people to look forward to. You don’t quit until quitting time, and thus get the full experience of your fun.