Tidying up in everyday project work: a simple question changed my productivity

Every Friday for the past four years or so, I have asked myself a simple question: "What can I say goodbye to?"

This question has proven to be a real secret weapon in my day-to-day project work. It is now a fixed item on my to-do list and has taken my productivity, but above all my satisfaction, to a whole new level.

The idea behind it is simple: I consciously take time to question all the activities, projects and routines that have accumulated in my day-to-day work. The aim? To recognize what really brings me joy and real added value - and to say goodbye to everything else.

This weekly routine has led to me pausing my Twitch stream, stopping certain video courses and ending numerous other activities that would otherwise have continued out of sheer habit. The result: more focus on what really matters, more enjoyment of my work and ultimately more success.

In this article, I will share with you exactly how this method works, what benefits it has brought me and how you can integrate it into your daily work routine.

The method in detail

How exactly does my weekly farewell routine work? It's simple: every Friday, a fixed item appears on my to-do list: "What can I say goodbye to?" I then take around 10-15 minutes to review my current projects and recurring activities.

I ask myself the following questions:

• Am I still enjoying this project or activity?
• Does it bring a profit - be it financially, through new contacts, reach or other non-monetary values?
• Would I miss it if I stopped doing it?
• Do I continue to do it out of habit or a sense of duty?

The fun factor is the most important criterion for me. If I lose the enjoyment of an activity, it's immediately a hot candidate for a goodbye. But even if something is fun but doesn't bring any tangible added value over a longer period of time, I'll take a critical look at it.

A concrete example: my TYPO3 livestream on Twitch. Initially, it was an exciting experiment and I enjoyed it. The response was actually good, with a solid core of regular participants. Nevertheless, the stream developed into a must-attend event over time. The preparation and implementation increasingly felt like a must, no longer an activity that I enjoy doing. After an honest self-examination as part of my Friday routine, I decided to pause the stream until further notice. The result? An immediate feeling of relief and more time for projects that really matter to me.

A second example is my"TYPO3 for editors" video course. I basically enjoyed the production, but the analysis showed that the effort and result were not in harmony. The time invested did not bring the hoped-for benefits - neither financially nor in the form of new contacts or reach. So I decided to stop producing this course and put my energy into more promising formats.

What I particularly appreciate about this method: It forces me to make regular, conscious decisions. Instead of just letting things go on because "that's the way it's done", I actively question whether they are still serving me and my business.

The benefits of the method

After almost four years with my weekly goodbye routine, I can clearly state the benefits:

Firstly, it creates a focused time for regular reflection. In our hectic working lives, we rarely consciously take time to question our activities. This firmly scheduled routine ensures that it actually happens.

By continuously identifying time wasters, I prevent unproductive habits from becoming ingrained. Things that may have gone on for years as a matter of routine are now put to the test after a few weeks at the latest.

Perhaps the most important advantage: I gain time and energy for the really worthwhile projects. Every farewell creates space - both in the calendar and in my head - for things that give me more pleasure or deliver better results.

The weekly frequency also allows for quicker course corrections. I don't have to wait until a project has completely hit the wall, but can take early countermeasures or get out.

I find it particularly valuable that the method helps to avoid the sunk cost trap. This psychological effect describes our tendency to stick with projects simply because we have already invested time, money or other resources - even if it is clear that we will not get these investments back. "I've already invested so much time, now I can't stop" - we all know this thought. However, the weekly goodbye question forces me to look forward instead of into the past and to make my decisions based on future benefits, not past investments.

Last but not least, routine encourages results-oriented thinking. Instead of focusing on mere activity, I ask myself: what is the real benefit? This way of thinking has positively changed my entire way of working.

An unexpected side effect: I have become more willing to experiment. When I know that I can end a project or activity at any time, it's easier for me to try out new things. This has led to some of the most exciting developments in my business.

Important tips for use

As valuable as the weekly goodbye routine is, there are a few points you should bear in mind when using it:

A sense of proportion is required for longer-term projects. Not everything that shows no visible results after a few weeks is automatically a candidate for adoption. Some projects - such as building a community or developing complex TYPO3 extensions - simply take time. Here it is important to define realistic milestones and base the evaluation on them, not on short-term successes.

One principle that I come across time and again when applying this method is the Pareto principle (also known as the 80/20 rule). It states that often 80% of our results come from 20% of our efforts. During my Friday reflection, I pay particular attention to this ratio: which few activities bring about the majority of my success? And which numerous activities eat up time without achieving much? This perspective helps me to identify the right candidates for leaving - namely those who are in the unfavorable part of the Pareto distribution.

You should also be patient with professional relationships and networks. A new cooperation project or participation in a specialist group may initially bring few tangible benefits. The true value often only becomes apparent after months or even years. With such long-term investments, don't just check the current benefits, but also the potential for the future.

You need to find an important balance between optimization and consistency. While on the one hand it is good to get rid of ballast, changing and realigning too often can also lead to inconsistency. Your customers and partners appreciate a certain degree of reliability. So also ask yourself whether an adjustment or revision might be a better option than a complete abandonment.

I also make sure not to get caught in an optimization hamster wheel. It's not about constantly striving for perfection and finishing everything else immediately. Sometimes "good enough" is actually good enough, especially if the activity supports other important aspects of your business.

One last important note: not every decision to leave has to be final. Sometimes it makes sense to just pause a project instead of ending it completely. My Twitch stream is a good example of this - I haven't written it off completely, I've just put it on hold until I feel like doing it again or have developed a fresh concept for it.

Ultimately, the trick is to use the method wisely. It is a tool for self-reflection and prioritization, not a rigid set of rules. Your experience and gut feeling play just as important a role in the decision-making process as the systematic Friday question.

Who is this method particularly suitable for?

Not every way of working suits everyone - but my experience shows that the weekly farewell routine can be particularly valuable for certain professional groups and personality types:

As a self-employed person or freelancer, you're probably constantly juggling several projects at the same time. This is exactly where the method is most effective. If no one tells you what to work on, regular self-reflection is all the more important. It helps you to focus your limited resources on the projects that really bring you something.

Especially for TYPO3 developers and content creators like me, this method is worth its weight in gold. New technologies, extensions and trends are constantly emerging in our industry. It's easy to lose focus and get bogged down in too many construction sites. The Friday question forces you to separate the wheat from the chaff and concentrate on the technologies and content that will provide the greatest benefit for you and your customers.

People who tend to over-optimize - I count myself among them - also benefit greatly from this routine. Instead of always starting new projects and leaving the old ones half-finished, the method helps you to make conscious decisions: What do I finish, what do I let go of?

As a trainer and course provider, I have to regularly review my portfolio. Which courses are well received? Which ones should I update? Which ones can I confidently discontinue? The Friday question helps me to keep my offering focused and relevant.

Digital entrepreneurs who need to react quickly to market changes will also find the method a valuable tool. In an industry that is constantly changing, the ability to let go and reallocate resources in good time is often crucial for success.

Last but not least, the method is a blessing for anyone who has difficulty saying "no" or ending things. The firmly established routine legitimizes letting go and makes it a normal, healthy part of everyday working life instead of a difficult exceptional decision.

But beware: if you work in a firmly structured job with clearly defined tasks, this method may be less relevant for you. It really comes into its own when you decide for yourself how to fill your time and where to prioritize.

Practical tips for implementation

If you now feel like trying out this method yourself, here are my practical tips for getting started:

Start with a fixed date in your calendar. For me, it's Friday afternoon - a good time to reflect on the week and clear my head for the weekend. Consciously choose a day and time that suits your rhythm. Block out 15-30 minutes and treat this appointment with the same priority as an important customer meeting.

The actual implementation can be very simple. In my case, it's simply a recurring entry in my to-do list with the question "What can I say goodbye to?" No complicated app, no special system - just this one question that gets me thinking.

If you like more structure, you can of course also create a small checklist. Categorize your current projects and routines into something like

• Course development/content production
• Marketing and sales
• Community activities
• Technical development
• Administrative tasks

Then go through each category and critically examine whether there are any candidates to be passed.

The "three-step method" is also a practical approach: mark projects with a yellow warning at the first critical review. If they appear again in the following week as candidates for approval, they turn orange. The third time it happens: red means "time to say goodbye". This staggered approach prevents rash decisions and gives you time to think through the implications of a potential goodbye.

To maintain the routine in the long term, it helps to celebrate small successes. Be aware of what you have gained from each farewell. For me, it was often a feeling of relief, sometimes measurably more time for more important projects or even concrete financial benefits through better focus.

The method can be particularly valuable in combination with quarterly or annual planning. While you tend to make tactical decisions in the weekly routine, you can think strategically at longer intervals: Which major areas of your business should you possibly scale back or abandon altogether?

One last tip: don't be too hard on yourself. It's not about obsessively finding something every week that you "have" to say goodbye to. In some phases, everything may run smoothly and there is no need for change. The routine should be a help, not a pressure - it simply creates the space for conscious decisions.

Conclusion

Since I incorporated the Friday question "What can I say goodbye to?" into my routine around four years ago, my everyday working life has changed fundamentally. What began as a simple experiment has become one of my most valuable productivity tools.

The method may seem simple - and it is. Its power lies precisely in this simplicity. It creates a solid framework for reflection that we otherwise all too easily postpone or forget altogether. It legitimizes letting go and makes it a normal, healthy part of business life.

By consistently applying this routine, I was able to gradually identify and stop all those activities that no longer brought me any real added value or were simply no longer fun. From my Twitch stream to certain video courses - every time I said goodbye, I made room for projects that I really cared about and that would help my business grow.

The Pareto principle has proven itself time and time again: A small part of my activities brings the majority of results. The weekly farewell routine helps me to identify precisely this part and focus my energy on it.

Of course, this method is not a panacea and requires a certain sense of proportion. Not everything that doesn't bring visible success in the short term is automatically a candidate for adoption. Long-term projects, network development and strategic investments need time to bear fruit.

My personal conclusion after four years of using this method is that it has not only helped me to be more productive, but also to be more satisfied with my work. Regularly clearing out prevents me from getting bogged down in projects that are not good for me or that have already had their day.

So if you sometimes feel like you're getting lost in too many projects or that you're holding on to things out of habit that are no longer getting you anywhere - give it a try. Set yourself a fixed date each week and ask yourself the simple question: "What can I say goodbye to?" You will be surprised at the clarity and focus this simple routine can bring to your everyday life.

I look forward to hearing about your experiences with this method.

Have you tried it out?

What were you able to let go of and what did it bring you?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments - I look forward to hearing from you!

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