If you’re under any illusion that Friday is an equally productive day of the week, then there really isn’t anything for you here in today’s blog. We’re not beating around the bush, Friday is the least productive day of the week, as a general rule of thumb, because it comes at the end of a long week. It’s been a busy few days, you’re rapidly running out of steam, the mirage of the pub and bad decisions is tantalisingly close, and you know that that new project is simply not getting started at 3pm on a sunny Friday afternoon.

If we’re still not on the same page about Friday’s, then seriously, please stop reading now.

It’s not just me, I promise, studies have shown how productivity levels peak and trough throughout the week amongst employees ( Tuesday is the winner by the way ) and guess who comes out last? Yep, friendly old Friday.

Well, until the world gets it’s proverbial A into gear and gives us the universal 4 day working week we all deserve, we still have to turn up and get shiz done on a Friday, if not for the sheer love of our work but at the very least to appease the overwhelming dread that is a Monday morning. You know the feeling, when you trudge into the office at 9:02am only to be faced with unfinished jobs that didn’t really seem to matter on a Friday afternoon but are now snapping viscously at your sorry little heels.

So, after attempting to wiggle my way into an early finish today (apparently leaving 7 hours early isn’t really appropriate, even on a Friday, but whatever) I decided instead to do something productive and share 5 Pistachio Friday habits that actually do help to make Friday, and Monday, better – trust me, they really do work…

1. Make a Monday to-do list

We’ve already learned that Tuesday is the most productive day of the week, and apparently this is because people spend a lot of their Monday mornings planning out their week.

Well, instead of spending your Monday am -aka prime productivity time – slowly switching on your brain and trying to vaguely remember what it was that you were supposed to do today before you tossed all of your notes up in the air and waltzed out of the office humming ‘Cheers to the freakin’ weekend’ on Friday afternoon, plan your week-ahead on a Friday.

Help out Monday you by encouraging Friday you to write down your to-dos for the coming week and hit the ground running first thing when you return.

2. Reflect on your week

It’s a good idea to jot down some bullet points of what you did over the last week. Not only is this good for your shoddy memory come Monday morning, post too many home-made margaritas, but it also makes you feel good.

It’s often too easy to focus on what’s on your ‘to-do’ list rather than taking a step back to reflect and say “wow, I actually achieved quite a lot this week”. This is especially important when you work alone or freelance, as there may not be many opportunities for people to praise you for the good work you’ve done. So give yourself a pat on the back and walk into the weekend with a good ol’ spring in your step.

3. Take advantage of the Friyay Feeling

People are generally in a good mood on a Friday – and if they’re not, well, you just don’t need that kind of negativity in your life so probably cut your losses now and run away from them right now – but for the most part, people are looking forward to the weekend and are in a generous mood.

So, make the most of this mood and ask someone for a favour, time commitment or support on a project, this gives them time to add it to their own schedule and doesn’t leave them blindsided with it on a groggy Monday morning.

4. Be grateful

Be thankful on a Friday and let your colleagues know. It doesn’t have to be cheesy or over the top, but if someone’s been a source of great support or help over the past week, then use the frivolity of Friday to let them know that you appreciate them.

And by this, I do not mean ‘constructive feedback’ sessions, Friday is not the time for a passive aggressive, colleague-on-colleague tense therapy session. The last thing people want to do over the weekend is stew over the back-handed complement they just received about their tea making capabilities.

5. Think Big!

Use the usually slower pace of a Friday to get creative and think about the future.

As people are generally more relaxed and open minded on a Friday, use this time to talk about blue-sky ideas and reach for the stars. You can then use the weekend to sleep on it and let the ideas take root ready for action come Monday morning.

Oh, and one last thing, please enjoy your weekend! We all work hard all week, and most of the year round, so please don’t waste your weekend by stressing about the little things at work, because chances are, those tricky clients or difficult contractors aren’t giving it a second thought whilst they get on with their weekend, so why should you? Taking the time to recharge is important and imperative to a productive and healthy working mind come Monday morning, so let it go and don’t feel guilty for switching off.

Implementing some of these Friday habits can definitely change your productivity levels for the better on a Friday afternoon and help you to reflect, recharge and prepare for a more focused and enjoyable Monday, so enjoy!

When we’re not busy ticking off our top 5 Friday habits, we’re busy making sure that we’re nurturing our clients brands in the best possible way. So, if you’re looking to create a new campaign, update your logo, brand or website, or simply want some cool new marketing assets for your social and sales teams, get in touch with us today, we’d be happy to help!