How to Make After-Work Hours Work for You

Do you ever get home from work, full of good intentions and tasks you want to get done and then find yourself flopped on the couch until the sun goes down? Here are some tricks for reclaiming your weeknights and making them as productive as you need so that when you’re finished, you can relax without feeling guilty.

Don’t get sucked into your phone. Away from the office, it can be tempting to get into the habit of uninterrupted Instagram scrolling. But if you find this damaging to your after-work productivity, try leaving your phone at the front door or plugging it in to charge in another room until you’ve finished all your after-work tasks.

Keep your office clothing on. While hopping right into a pair of sweats is hands-down the comfiest way to end the workday, staying in your work clothes until you’ve finished your after-work tasks can help keep you in that “work” mindset. Once you’re finished, those comfy sweats or plush bathrobe will feel that much sweeter.

Get into a routine. If you do a routine consistently enough, it becomes second nature. Maybe that’s putting away your bag, putting your favourite playlist on and getting right into a workout. Or maybe it’s dumping ingredients into your slow cooker and sitting down to do some work on a side gig. Either way, keeping to a routine when you come home means that you’re less likely to get sidetracked.

Prep in the morning. If you’re a morning person, try making things easier for when you get home. Whether it’s opening up a cookbook to your favourite recipe and pre-slicing vegetables or laying out your yoga mat so that you can get right into it, taking a few minutes to set yourself up for success can be really helpful.