Bookends are on either end of a row of books. They mark the beginning and end of the books as well as adding a structure for the books to stand straight and maintain order.
You use bookends in your life although you likely do not call them bookends. Driving your car to and from work is a bookend. Brushing your teeth is a bookend. Bookends in life are a way for us to manage the transition from one activity to another.
Bookends are a great tool for productivity. If used correctly they will prepare you for your next activity and help you end your previous activity. They give you space to transition from one thing to another. This space allows your brain to change gears and reorganize for what is next.
Some bookends will help you ramp up and some will help you ramp down. The key is to understand that without these bookends in place the books start to fall and become unorganized and disorderly. If you do not properly end one task before moving on to the next it will follow you, distract you, and cause havoc on the next activity.
Placing a bookend at the beginning and end of activities finishes one task and preps you for the next. Some examples of simple bookends are:
– Take 3 deep belly breathes
– Stretch routine first thing upon waking and the last thing before bed
– Shutting your computer down
– Making a cup of tea
Where can you add or improve your bookends to improve your productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness?