A Better Way to End the Day
Most people end their workday by simply stopping work and moving on (or even worse, letting work bleed into their personal life). But if you want to relax, stay positive, continually improve, and make meaningful progress towards your goals, you should implement a consistent, brief, end-of-workday routine we call the Daily Shutdown.
The Daily Shutdown Ritual
At the end of your workday, take just a few minutes for your Daily Shutdown. This is your intentional transition between “on” and “off”; between work and personal time. It allows your mind to let go of unfinished tasks, reset from stress, and get ready for rest. It also helps you to set your plans and priorities for the next day so you hit the ground running. And it makes sure you are focused on and enjoy your time with family or friends after your workday is done.
Here’s the Daily Shutdown:
Review your day: Scan back through your day to recall what happened. It can help to review your planner, calendar, and your phone’s Recent Calls.
Acknowledge your wins: Even small wins count. No matter the day, some things went well! I try to find at least 3 each day.
Identify one way to improve: This isn’t to beat yourself up! Just identify a “lesson learned” or a specific, actionable tweak you can make for the future.
Plan for tomorrow: Review tomorrow’s schedule and list your handful of top priority actions for the day.
Disconnect: Turn off your computer and put your phone in Do Not Disturb and out of sight.
This short routine lowers stress, helps you focus on the important people in your life, boosts your confidence, drives continuous improvement, and ensures you have a highly productive next day, every day.
The Happiful Planner
The Happiful Planner (see below for how to get it for free) is designed to be filled out at the end of your workday. In addition to the “Today’s Wins” and “How I’ll Improve” sections that you fill out on today’s Planner, you fill out the next day’s Planner with the following sections:
I’m Grateful For: a Gratitude Journal provides many benefits, starting with dramatically improved positivity
I’m Excited About: anticipating desirable upcoming events makes you happy and gives you motivation
Affirmation: handwriting one key affirmation helps to reinforce it
Daily Habit: what habit are you working on installing?
Focus: what do you want to focus on tomorrow?
Exercise: planning ahead makes it much more likely you’ll do it
Calendar events: transfer these over from your online calendar
Today’s MVPs: Most Vital Priorities – these are the most important actions you are committed to taking the next day
Other Planned Tasks for Today: there are likely some things you need to do that are not MVPs. This clearly separates your important tasks from other less important things to do.
Ideal Day Checklist
The other key Happiful tool is the Ideal Day Checklist. Among other things, it guides you through creating your own personal Daily Shutdown, the steps you’ll take at the end of each workday. For example, here’s what I have in my Daily Shutdown:
RAFT to empty email inbox and exit (RAFT is how to process all your emails: Refer, Action, File, Trash)
Add today’s new items to Remember the Milk (Remember the Milk is the task management software I recommend)
Close out today’s Happiful Planner (Wins/Improve)
Check tomorrow’s calendar
Check Weekly Plan for MVPs for tomorrow
Check Remember the Milk for tomorrow
Decide tomorrow’s MVPs
Decide tomorrow’s “Other Actions”
Number tasks in order of importance
Plan tomorrow’s meals and exercise
Plan tomorrow’s reachouts to family and friends
Gratitude journaling
Clear desk
Computer off by 5pm
Phone in DND mode & out of sight
Our free Ideal Day App guides you through creating your own Ideal Day Checklist, including the Daily Shutdown, your Morning Routine, and your Daily Activities. You can use it on your phone or computer, or print it out. And it also includes the Happiful Planner (print only).
Ready to Feel the Difference?
End your day feeling accomplished, clear-minded, and ready for tomorrow. The Ideal Day App and Happiful Planner make it easy, and you can get them for free to get started today.
