Hi friends,
It's the week before Eid, and things are getting hectic between shopping for clothes and hosting arrangements, fulfilling Iftar invitations, catching up on some so-much-missed sleep, or making plans to flee the whole Eid celebrations to a sunnier part of the world.
This newsletter is your kind reminder to leave many notes for the fresh start after Eid!
Just like I reminded you to do this before Ramadan started, I am reminding you to wrap things up as it ends, especially at work. Your after-Eid self would feel like this week was a distant memory and will sincerely thank you for setting it up for success.
Consider the scenario: Arriving to work with the faintest memory of what your job actually is. Finding it hard to focus between the coffee smell back in the hallway, the hellos and welcome back greetings from your colleagues, and the first breakfast together. You might only feel ready to work when it's 2 pm, but now you feel ready to leave work, and it's too late to start, especially since your sleeping schedule is still a mess...and just like the first day is gone!
Or the alternative scenario, the scenario that you can choose today by being kind to yourself and leaving her generous notes of where to start on her first day. That self will walk in ready to go; she will remind her boss of key projects to follow up on, will schedule meetings, and will have brought Eid chocolates for her colleagues.
Here is what to do:
- Write a few notes answering the below questions:
- What do you need to do right after returning from Eid vacation?
- What project will be your focus?
- What meetings do you need to schedule right when you get in?
- What pending issues do you need to solve?
- Who do you need to follow up with?
- Add a reminder to read them on the night before you return to work.
- Sleep on it.
- Wake up feeling ready to rule the day and move things forward.
Bonus tip: Spend some time planning your holiday, too! Who do you want to see apart from your family? What is a cool place you want to take your kids to? Schedule that outing with a dear friend, and search a few outdoor places you might take the kids to, especially with the abundance of lush green fields we have this time of year. Make a few phone calls or send texts to book your friend.
Your Eid and after-Eid selves will be so grateful for this planning session(s).
Remember, a fresh start is around the corner, but that's next week's post…
