My very first job was in a boat manufacturing plant and I worked overtime the entire time I was there. Overtime equaled more money then and I had time to trade, so I didn’t mind. At that job they ended Friday around 4 pm to give everyone time to get to the bank to deposit their hard earned paycheck and part of the routine was to get everything cleaned up and put away starting around 3:30 pm. It was nice to clean up, nice to leave early, and nice to come in Monday with everything neat and organized.

That’s been a while ago, but it’s still one of my favorite habits, setting aside some time on Friday afternoon to put stuff away, beat the inbox into submission, update the task list, and try to exit an hour or so earlier than usual. I can’t say all my employers have embraced the plan, somehow equating leaving early to working less, though by my count they’ve never gotten the short end of the deal on hours!

Whether you get out the door early or not, make some time to clear the desk and your head by doing some Friday afternoon cleanup. It’s a great way to start the weekend, and a great way to start the next week.