1. Start your day by working on unfinished projects or pressing priorities – DO NOT open emails or check voice messages.

2. Keep your phone forwarded to voice mail or turn it off. Check messages every 2 hours and return only those calls that are urgent. Schedule remaining calls for Tuesday morning.

3. Don’t hang out at the “water cooler.” Avoid getting sucked into listening to stories about travel disasters or a new turkey recipe.

4. Spend the afternoon sorting through and taking action on any emails and voice mails. By doing this in the afternoon you ensure others are available to speak with you or respond to your emails (they have now exhausted their water cooler talk and are back at their desk).

5. Leave early. Don’t start your first day back by working late. Since you will have a productive day, reward yourself by leaving a little early. You deserve it and will feel refreshed and ready for Tuesday.

Shawn Casemore, President, Casemore and Co.
www.casemoreandco.com