The Friday Illusion: why you really are less productive on Fridays
And how this can lead to a burnout
Be honest: do you really check off the last things on your to-do list on Friday? Or do you actually stare at the same email for half an hour while your thoughts are already at the weekend drinks? I secretly bet on option two; but no shame, you are really not the only one. Fridays are generally not the most productive days. Occasionally having a work dip is not a bad thing, as long as you are aware of it. Otherwise, you will have to deal with the Friday Illusion, which can, in the worst case, even lead to a burnout.
What is the Friday Illusion?
No, this illusion does not mean that you suddenly think it is Friday on random other days. The Friday Illusion is the idea that you are still productive while you are actually already suffering from that classic Friday dip. Often that dip even starts earlier. By Thursday afternoon, you are at the turning point: Friday is in sight, and so is the weekend. It’s not that we all close our laptops en masse, but unconsciously your energy drops and your work pace slows down. Answering a message suddenly takes three times as long. You are still at your desk, but mentally you have already clocked out. That to-do list? It can go in the trash.
From Friday Illusion to burnout: this is how it happens
Thinking once that you have wrapped up the workweek nicely productively is really not that bad. But be warned: it can really get in your way on Monday morning. It feels a bit like starting the day with a bad hangover – not from the wine, but from the tasks that are still left over from Friday. What you didn’t finish last week is still waiting on your desk. That piles up with your new tasks, just like your feeling of work pressure. Many employees already feel overworked, insecure, or emotionally drained, and an extra stress factor only makes that tension greater. Add to that the uncertain job market is already stressful enough, and a burnout is just around the corner. It starts as an innocent misconception, but can have serious consequences after a while. But don’t worry, there is something you can do about it.
This is how you divide your Friday into short productive blocks
According to Avery Morgan, Chief Human Resources Officer at EduBirdie, there are a few smart ways to prevent the Friday Illusion. Tip 1: divide your Friday into short blocks. Saving big tasks until the end of the week simply does not fit with the motivation you have on Friday. This way, you keep postponing things and they hop, immediately go to the next week. By splitting your Friday into blocks of, for example, 45 minutes, and choosing tasks that you can tick off in that time, you prevent that overwhelming feeling. And let’s be honest: being able to cross something off your list just feels good and can give you the extra motivation you need so badly on Friday.
Prepare your Friday on Thursday: this is how you start the day with a plan
Procrastination is everyone’s biggest enemy. If important tasks are left until Friday afternoon, you can forget about finishing them. In your head, you are probably already curled up on the couch with a blanket. To prevent that, Morgan recommends making a plan on Thursday. Split your tasks into three groups: things that really need to be done, tasks that require your immediate attention, and things that can wait. By planning your Friday only around the essential things, you know exactly where to start while your motivation is still somewhat cooperating.
How to embrace your Friday dip without falling into the Friday Illusion
No matter how hard you try, that Friday dip is not always preventable – and it doesn’t have to be. The more you try to force yourself to get more done, the more pressure and unrest you will experience. Do you notice that your energy is dropping? Then feel free to give in to it, and you can still get something done. Switch to the simplest tasks: quickly answer an email or organize your notes. And if you finish something? See that as a victory. It may not have been a big task, but you can still tick something off.
This is how you set up your Friday to start the new week smoothly
We plan a little further, but then already for the new week. I know, on Friday you don’t really want to think about the quickly approaching Monday, but it can really help. Instead of ending in a big chaos, you go home with a clear plan, and that brings peace. You know exactly what is still waiting for you and when you are going to do it – big tasks first, then the lighter work, depending on your energy level. This way, you don’t have to worry all weekend. On Monday, you immediately hit the ground running and set the tone for a successful week. Out of that vicious circle of piling stress and burnout. This way, you stay in control of the Friday Illusion.
Source: The Every Girl
