The 10-Minute Daily Routine Every Tutor Needs

When you work for yourself, it can feel like the work is never really done. There’s always another email to answer, another task to complete, or something else you could be doing. And if you wait until everything is finished before you stop working, you may never actually stop. In this episode of The Tutor Edit, I’m sharing the simple 10-minute shutdown routine that helped me create a much clearer boundary between work and the rest of my life. For me, the problem wasn’t necessarily that I was working too much. It was that I had no finish line. I was creating endless open loops in my brain, carrying unfinished tasks into the evening, and checking emails simply because I didn’t have a clear signal that the working day was over. I share the three-step routine I now use to close down my working day: The brain dump – getting everything out of my head and onto paper so my brain doesn’t have to keep tracking it. The Big Three – identifying the three priority tasks for the day and recognising what I’ve actually accomplished. The shutdown routine – celebrating the day’s wins, planning tomorrow’s priorities, closing the laptop and physically leaving the workspace. The final step is particularly important. Creating a physical transition away from your workspace helps reinforce the message that work has ended and you are allowed to stop. I also talk about why you don’t need to feel disciplined before creating a routine. Sometimes the ritual comes first, and the feeling of control follows. If you’re a tutor or business owner who finds yourself checking emails late at night, thinking about work during dinner, or struggling to switch off, this episode is a reminder that you don’t need to finish everything. You simply need to create your own finish line. Your brain may have been waiting for permission to stop. What You’ll Take Away Why working for yourself can make it difficult to know when the working day is actually over How unfinished tasks create mental clutter and keep you thinking about work A simple three-step, 10-minute routine for shutting down your working day Why physically leaving your workspace can help reinforce your boundaries Why you don’t have to wait until you feel disciplined to build better habits How creating a consistent end-of-day ritual can help you switch off and enjoy your evening