Most of us work like machines throughout the day, charging forward without stopping for a breath. You keep pushing to meet deadlines and not fall behind, and now all of that hard work has paid off.



Why you ask? Well, because you have been so diligent that you’ve run out of work to do. Now you can relax, right?



Sure, take a moment to breathe and bask in your accomplishment, but now is not the time to twiddle your thumbs. Use this time to do something productive that will make your job even more efficient.





Not sure where to start? Give these 9 tasks a try.



1. Sort Your Emails



Seeing how 85% of people send emails around the globe, you probably have quite a few just taking up space. A messy inbox is honestly unacceptable, and can cause a lot of stress and headaches if you can’t find what you are looking for.



Create subfolders within your email account to keep everything tidy. Separate these folders either by client or project, whatever is best for you. This way, you will be able to find a conversation at a drop of a hat.



2. De-Clutter Your Workspace



Once your digital space is clear, do the same with your physical space. Sort your files into labeled folders to make them easily scan-able. Get rid of things that you don’t need anymore, and cut down on the desk clutter.



3. Catch Up With Clients



Sometimes we get so caught up with our day-to-day tasks or big projects that we forget to stay in touch with all of our clients. With companies vying for market share in every industry it is important to maintain current and past relationships with clients to make sure they do not go somewhere else.



A simple email or phone call is all it takes to show your customers that you are thinking about them. Who knows, they may have new needs that you were not yet aware of, bringing in more business for your company.



4. Seek Out New Connections



Finding new clients can be a trying task, but it pays off handsomely when you meet the right one. Utilize social media and professional networking sites to find people in your industry to connect with. This could benefit you with not only your current position, but also later on if you end up changing companies.



5. Brainstorm New Projects



Instead of day dreaming, think of new projects you want to take on. Identify the pros and cons of each and carefully determine if they will be beneficial. This way, you will have new ideas to talk about at your next team meeting, which shows initiative.



6. Read Relevant Industry News or Topics



The world is changing every day. So, you must stay up to date on the latest happenings that could impact your industry or company. Catching up on your news can also give you new ideas on how to tackle a project or fix a problem.



7. Offer Your Time to a Coworker



Just because you happen to be caught up with your work doesn’t mean the rest of your team is. If you have the capacity to do so, offer to help them out with a task or two. A little kindness goes a long way, and they will be more likely to return the favor and offer their help in the future.



8. Evaluate Your Output



Making a mistake is not always bad. But when these mistakes could be avoided if you just slow down a bit, they really aren’t necessary.



Work smart, not just fast, in order to produce the best quality output.



9. Plan for Tomorrow



When push comes to shove, sometimes running out of work to do is a direct result of poor planning. So, use this time to plan out your next day, including breaks, so that you can keep your entire day productive.