What Should You Be Doing on Your Last Full Workday Before Christmas?

On a normal workday, I try to do something “important-but-not-urgent” first thing in the morning (like writing an Early to Rise article or a chapter for my next book). And if you’ve been reading ETR for any length of time, you know that important-but-not-urgent tasks are the ones that can really make a difference in terms of your major life goals.

But on the last full workday before Christmas, I focus on less-important work — preparing for the coming week.

I spend an hour cleaning up all the non-critical odds and ends that I wasn’t able to postpone until next week. But I do it as efficiently as possible. Short answers. Quick decisions. Lots of delegating.

I contact my colleagues and clients, wishing them a happy holiday. And I let my clients know that even when I’m not in the office, I’m still handling the important things for them.

Usually, the weather is beautiful — Florida beautiful — so I try to leave the office as early as possible to enjoy a little sunshine before dinner.

Today, I recommend that you do the same.

[Ed. Note: Mark Morgan Ford was the creator of Early To Rise. In 2011, Mark retired from ETR and now writes the Palm Beach Letter. His advice, in our opinion, continues to get better and better with every essay, particularly in the controversial ones we have shared today. We encourage you to read everything you can that has been written by Mark.]