Who Else Wants to Go Home at a Reasonable Hour?

There are a number of characteristics shared by people who get out of the office at a reasonable hour. They collect their portfolio, put on their coat and walk with a quiet confidence. Hmmm... "How does he do it? How does he meet his commitments yet leave here when I have an hour or two or work left to do?

I've collected the list of the top reasons people are walking out the door 'on time' so that you might find one or more that works for you.

• Have a reason to go home. A clear, goal with a specific time attached to it is what motivates people to leave the office. Start with the time: say 6:00.Identify the reason to be home and write it on your calendar like every other meeting. Possibilities to get you started: dinner with your family, appointment with a professional, specific exercise time, and a class you take. Commitments with other people tend to have an accountability factor that is motivating – you don't want to stand someone up or have to pay for an event that you don't attend.
• Schedule wrap-up time at the end of the day. People who leave at a reasonable hour start tying

• up the loose ends and making their ToDo list at pretty much the same time every day. It is their 'winding down' routine.
• People who go home at a reasonable hour consciously limit time wasting activities during the day. They chat with co-workers but for brief times. They attend meetings and do everything in their power to ensure there is an agenda that is followed. They don't surf the internet, they use it as a resource to find an answer then turn away.
• They schedule time to focus on specific efforts. This is closed door, uninterrupted time where they make significant progress on a project.
• People going home on time have other interests. No matter how hard you work, if you don't come back tomorrow you will be replaced. It will go on without you. You need to go on without it, too.
• Home is a place they like to be. Relationships and environment attract them home.
• People who delegate have a tendency to go home on time because they are matching the quantity of work with the time and people resources that are appropriate.

IF you'd like to get home at a reasonable hour, make it your goal to do that and pick a strategy above to try.

Comments

[Blaine Moore]

Great advice. I'm all about getting home and spending time with my family. I worked a lot more when I was single.

[Susan Sabo]

@Karen ~ good point! We have to decide if that image is worth the trade off required.

@Bruce - how is it different for you?

[Karen (Karooch from Scraps of Mind)]

Great advice Susan. I think another major reason why people don't go home at a reasonable hour is 'office image'. Working long hours makes you look diligent.

[Bruce]

Nice work Susan. Very tightly written and well thought out. Good advice too. I am in the medical field so it's a bit different for me but some of the things, especially the first one apply. It is sort of like one of the 7 Habits (Covey) "Begin with the end in mind"