As the last customer of the day leaves, the phone rings once more and the day ends in a rush. The first hour of the next morning can go into trying to remember where things were left.
The last few minutes of the day can affect how the next day begins. This article describes six points small businesses can look at as the day ends, why each one can matter and how it can be handled.
⚡ Example scenario: In a tailor's shop, fittings, alterations and pickups overlap all day; unfinished jobs sometimes stay only in the tailor's head. When it turns out that a promised alteration was forgotten the next day, the shop decides to prepare a short note and look at tomorrow's pickups before finishing the day. This habit can help show where to start in the morning.
Tomorrow's Confusion Can Start at the End of Today
The next morning's confusion can often stem from the previous day ending in a rush. Unfinished tasks, unreturned calls and tomorrow's deliveries are kept in mind during the day; by morning, some of them may not be remembered.
The table below summarizes the six points, why each can matter and how long it may take. These points can usually be handled with a short look of a few minutes.
| Point | Why | How long it may take |
|---|---|---|
| Noting down unfinished tasks | There may be no need to search for where you left off | A few minutes |
| Setting aside unanswered calls | The person to call back may not be forgotten | A few minutes |
| Looking at tomorrow's deliveries | Something missing can be noticed in advance | A few minutes, depending on the number of orders |
| Deciding on tomorrow's first task | Where to start the day can become clear | A brief moment |
| Putting today's files in place | Information created during the day may not get lost | A few minutes |
| Leaving a note for tomorrow | Someone else can carry on the work | A few minutes |
1. Note Down Unfinished Tasks
Writing tasks started but not finished during the day on a short list keeps them visible the next day. When an unfinished task is only kept in mind, its turn can get lost in the rush of a new day.
Briefly adding where the task stopped and the next step can reduce the need to think it through again in the morning. We described how tasks discussed in meetings can get lost in our article on why tasks from meetings get forgotten; the topic here is one person or a small team looking at their own tasks at the end of the day.
2. Set Aside Unanswered Calls and Messages
Noting unanswered calls and messages in a separate place gathers the people to get back to in one spot. On a busy day a call may be put off with the thought of returning it later, and the next day that intention may not be remembered.
When taking the note, writing who called, what they wanted and when to get back to them may be enough. We covered how these calls can be recorded in our article on unanswered calls.
3. Look at Orders Due Tomorrow
Looking at the jobs due for delivery the next day at the end of the day can help a missing part or an unfinished step be noticed in time. A gap noticed in the morning may not be filled before the customer arrives.
In this look, glancing at the order note, the delivery method and the day promised to the customer may be enough. We covered what can be done to take the order fully from the start in our article on mistakes when taking customer orders.
4. Decide on Tomorrow's First Task
Deciding today which task to start with tomorrow can help keep the first minutes of the morning from being spent in indecision.
Three topics can stand out in this decision.
1. The first task of the morning
Choosing the first task from tomorrow's work can make it clear where to start the day. A job with a close delivery day can stand out in this choice.
2. Who starts with which task
In a small team, briefly talking about which task each person will start with in the morning can reduce the chance of two people heading for the same job.
3. Missing materials or information
If a material needed for the first task or information expected from a customer is missing, noting it today can reduce waiting in the morning.
5. Put Today's Files in Their Place
Moving files, photos and notes created during the day to a place everyone can find can help keep this information from staying on a single phone or computer. A document saved to the desktop or a photo left on a phone may not be found when it is looked for the next day.
We described ways of organizing files in a shared folder in our article on mistakes when organizing shared files. Whether today's files have been backed up can also be checked at the end of the day; we covered how this can be checked in our article on checks to make before your computer breaks.
6. Leave a Short Note for Tomorrow
If someone else will start the work the next day or there is a chance of being late in the morning, a short note can help the work continue. The note can be a simple list made up of a few fields.
| Field | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Unfinished tasks | Shows where each task stopped |
| People to get back to | Reminds whom to reply to and about what |
| Tomorrow's deliveries | Shows which jobs need to be ready |
| Tomorrow's first task | States where to start the day |
| Missing items | Reminds of the materials or information being waited for |
Keeping the note in the same place each day can help whoever looks for it find it easily. When the note is kept short, writing it at the end of the day may not take long.
Summary
The next day's confusion can stem from the day ending in a rush. Noting down unfinished tasks, setting aside unanswered calls, looking at tomorrow's deliveries, deciding on tomorrow's first task, putting today's files in place and leaving a short note for tomorrow can help start the day in a more orderly way. Each of these points can be handled with a look of a few minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can be useful to look at at the end of the day?
Unfinished tasks, unanswered calls and messages, tomorrow's deliveries, tomorrow's first task, the day's files and a short note for tomorrow can be counted among these points.
How long can end-of-day preparation take?
The time can vary with how busy the work is. When the points are kept short, each can be handled with a look of a few minutes; the real difference can come from doing this regularly.
Where should I write down unfinished tasks?
Choosing one place everyone knows can help. It can be a notebook, a shared file or a list on a board; writing where the task stopped and the next step may be enough.
How should I choose tomorrow's first task?
Jobs with a close delivery day and waiting customers can stand out in this choice. If a material or piece of information is missing for the first task, noting it today can reduce waiting in the morning.
How can work carry on the next day when I am not there?
Leaving a short note with unfinished tasks, people to get back to, tomorrow's deliveries and missing items can help. Keeping the note in the same place each day can make it easier to find.
Let's build your end-of-day routine together
Where unfinished tasks are written, how calls are set aside, where tomorrow's note is kept. We can build this habit step by step.
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