How do you force yourself to leave work on time without feeling guilty?

Have you ever gotten a brilliant idea while settling in for the night? Found yourself working till 2 in the morning? When you love what you do, it’s easy to always find yourself in work mode.

Being involved in various non-profit organizations, I often need to make it to meetings and volunteer opportunities in the evening. However, I find it so hard to get off work on time. There’s something about the feeling of accomplishment and the related endorphins that keep me going. I have found myself staying late at work on accident simply because I got into a project. Especially on days when I have back-to-back meetings, I’ve stayed to catch up on emails. I can inadvertently work 3 to 4 hours of overtime in a week if I am not focused on the clock.

When you’re paid a salary, there is no benefit to working overtime. Time management is key. What keeps me centered are a few tricks I have learned through the years...

Focus on what matters.

The first 5 minutes after I arrive are spent scanning through emails, checking my calendar, and reviewing notes I left the day before.  When I am done, I have mentally made a priority list. I focus on what matters, or rather, what adds value. Those projects or tasks are completed first.

Set clear goals.

I utilize my calendar to set reminders and schedule hard deadlines. I plan my day realistically, taking into consideration any unexpected interruptions or drawn-out meetings I may face throughout the day. I underestimate the amount of work I can complete and overestimate how long each task will take. As counterintuitive as it may sound, it has allowed me to get more done and give each task more attention to detail.

Develop a strategy.

At the end of the day, I have developed a routine, I review everything I had done to confirm that it is of good quality and create a to-do list for the following day. At the top of the to-do list is my most important project and a quick-win task. If there is a project that I have been avoiding, I will break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Before I leave, I will tidy up my desk so that I am motivated with a clean slate in the morning.

Eliminate distractions.

I keep my cellphone off my desk and notifications turned off, only checking it during lunch. Social media is a big no for me as well. It is easy to get distracted when your mind needs a break. I have found that stepping away, getting water, or going for a short walk helps my mind rest and start fresh once I get back to my desk.

Pick up the phone and be clear.

Not communicating effectively can be the biggest time waster. Instead of emailing back and forth a simple conversation that could take hours, I simply pick up the phone and call that person. Phone calls never last more than a few minutes. While communicating, I am direct and tell them exactly what I am trying to accomplish and what I need from them to do so.

Either the day runs you, or you run the day. You choose.