Drive by Friday

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Drive by Friday –

In many Australian organisations, especially post-COVID, the way we work has shifted — but the workload hasn't necessarily eased. In fact, for many of us, the "flexibility" of hybrid work has blurred the lines between focused output, endless online meetings, and the demands of a fast-moving business environment.

So how do we stay on top of it all without burning out?

It’s all about working smarter, staying organised, and making sure that what matters gets done — even when your calendar is full and your inbox feels infinite.

Rethink “Busy” — It’s Not a Badge of Honour

A full calendar doesn't always equal high impact. We often confuse being busy with being productive. Smart workload management is about focusing on the right things — not just doing more.

Try this:

Pick your most important task (mit) each day — the one thing that will move the needle most.
Block out 90-minute-deep focus sessions in your calendar and treat them like meetings with yourself.

The Weekly Planning Ritual (Yes, It's Worth It)

Set aside time every Friday afternoon or Monday morning to plan your week. It helps you stay on the front foot — especially if you’re managing multiple teams or juggling internal and external deadlines.

3 Steps to Try

1. Review what's outstanding and what's coming up.

2. Prioritise 3–5 key outcomes for the week.

3. Allocate buffer time — because urgent things will pop up.

Tip: Use tools like Microsoft Planner or Trello (widely used in Aus SMEs and corporates) to map out your week.

Time-Smart Techniques You Can Actually Use

These aren’t gimmicks — they’re simple strategies that work:

The Pomodoro Technique: 25 minutes focus, 5 minutes break. Great for tackling reports, admin, or creative work.
The Pomodoro Technique — Why it works & how to do it
Time Blocking: Allocate tasks to specific blocks of time on your calendar.
Batching: Group similar tasks (emails, calls, admin) so your brain isn’t switching gears constantly.

Tool Spotlight (Aussie Friendly)

We have so many tools available that can assist with working more effectively and planning better. It’s a matter of addressing which ones work for you. Here are a few options:

Notion or Evernote – For notes, team docs, and project plans.
Asana – For managing team workflows (gaining popularity across startups and agencies in Aus).
Google Calendar + Colour Coding – So you can visually segment types of work: meetings, focus time, admin, etc.

Know When to Say No

Boundaries matter. It’s okay to push back or renegotiate deadlines when your plate is full. Aussie workplaces value autonomy and straight-talking — just be transparent and realistic.

“Let me circle back with a realistic timeline — I want to make sure I do this properly.”

From the Field - Real Talk

A senior manager in a Melbourne-based NFP recently shared this insight:

“I used to be at my desk from 7am to 6pm and still felt behind. Now I do one thing at a time, no notifications, and schedule one admin-only afternoon a week. It’s changed everything.”

Sometimes the shift is simple — but powerful.

Challenge for This Week

✅ Block out one 90-minute focus session each day this week.

✅ At the start of each day, write down your ‘mit’ — just one — and commit to getting it done before lunch.

Give it a go – it sounds simple, but worth a try if you haven’t done this before. You might be impressed by the results.