Description:
Working remotely from a home office, the lines between work and personal life get incredibly blurred. My laptop is always *right there*. What are some practical, effective strategies to mentally and physically ‘switch off’ from work mode and reclaim personal time in the evenings and on weekends?
15 Answers
Create an 'end of workday' ritual. This could be shutting down your computer completely (not just sleep mode), tidying your desk, changing your clothes, or going for a short walk to simulate a commute. The physical act helps signal to your brain that work is over. It sounds simple, but it really works for me. I literally say 'Goodbye office!' to my desk.
Schedule your personal time and activities just as you schedule work meetings. Plan specific things for your evenings or weekends – hobbies, exercise, socialising (even virtual), family time. This gives you something to look forward to and makes it harder for work to encroach.
- I. C.: Great tip! Setting clear boundaries helps create a real end to the workday. Do you also recommend any tech tools to remind yourself when it’s time to switch off?
Communicate your working hours clearly to your colleagues and stick to them. If they know you're offline after 6 PM, they'll be less likely to expect an immediate response. It’s also about managing others’ expectations, not just your own habits. This takes courage but is essential for long term WFH success.
One thing that helps me is to have a distinct 'after work' scent. I'll light a specific candle or use a room spray that's different from anything I use during work hours. It's a small sensory cue but it helps create a shift in the atmosphere and my mindset.
- Anonymous: That’s such a clever idea! It’s amazing how little sensory cues can really spark a mental shift. I’ve found myself fumbling to “switch off” too—maybe adding something like a dedicated scent could finally help me draw that clear line between work and relaxation. Have you noticed any particular scents work best?
- Alex Davis: Thanks, glad you like the idea! For me, calming scents like lavender or eucalyptus work best—they’re relaxing but not overpowering. Sometimes I switch it up depending on my mood, but having a consistent “after work” scent really helps signal to my brain that it’s time to unwind. Give it a try and see what feels right for you!
Mindfulness or meditation apps can be helpful to transition. A short 5-10 minute guided meditation at the end of your workday can help clear your head and shift your focus. I use Headspace, helps alot.
- K. H.: Good practical tip. Consider also assessing candidates’ stress management strategies during screening for cultural fit in remote work environments.
Use different user profiles on your computer for work and personal use if you must use the same machine, or ideally, have separate devices. This helps create a digital separation. Also, different browser themes or desktop backgrounds for each mode can help. I find this surprisingly effective.
- Leon Nelson: Love the idea of browser themes for work vs. personal time—never thought aesthetics could impact productivity! But does this really help if your brain's still stuck on emails? How do you tackle that mental side?
- Jamie Walker: Hey Leon, glad you liked the browser themes tip! For the mental side, I find setting a strict "end-of-day" ritual helps—like closing all work apps and physically stepping away from the workspace. Sometimes a short walk or a quick non-work activity right after logging off signals your brain it's time to switch gears. It’s not perfect, but small habits like that make a difference over time.
Try a 5-minute "work log" at the end of your day where you jot what you finished and the first task for tomorrow. It clears your head and stops you replaying emails. Then flip a physical switch like a desk lamp or smart plug to kill work vibes. Add a chill wind-down playlist and an out-of-hours auto-reply. Works imo 😊
What story do you want your day to tell when it ends? Try a small theatrical switch that is neither a list nor a gadget. Choose a wearable or object that marks the non work self, put it on or hold it as you verbalise one short sentence about what you finished and what you are letting go of until tomorrow. The repetition trains your brain to shift roles, and the object anchors the feeling. Which object could convincingly transform you from worker to person for the evening?
- Jayden Hart: Oh wow, I totally get that. One time I bought this fancy little charm bracelet, thinking it’d be my off switch. Turns out, covid made working from home so weird that I’d get tangled in my own routines. I’d put on or remove the bracelet, tell myself a short mantra about leaving work behind, and honestly, it helped me mentally shift gears. Sometimes, a simple object or ritual can be so powerful for marking that boundary. Do you have a favorite object for switching off?
- Anonymous: Hey, that charm bracelet idea sounds perfect—a tactile way to create that boundary. For me, it’s a simple wristwatch I take off at the end of the day. That little pause to remove it feels like hitting a reset button. It’s amazing how these small rituals help our brain switch gears without needing screens or lists. Glad to hear your mantra and bracelet routine works for you too!
So, funny story, I once told my manager I was offline and then answered a work Slack while brushing my teeth. I have a tiny home office that somehow turned into a 24 7 monster for months. One weekend I even had cereal crumbs in my keyboard and realized I had been on calls in my pajamas more often than not. That got embarrassing. Then I started experimenting with boundaries and some things actually stuck.
First set a hard stop ritual like closing the laptop, shutting the door, and moving the charger to another room so the computer feels physically out of reach. Next turn off non essential notifications, use a separate work profile or device, and set an automatic away status so teammates know you’re done. Pick a transition activity every day, a 10 minute walk, shower, or making tea, and schedule evening plans so you have something to protect. Block personal time on your calendar, communicate hours, and try one full offline day on weekends. Mix and match and tweak until it feels normal. Works for me.
- Anonymous: Turn off notifications and close office door
- Austin Carpenter: Great tips! Turning off notifications definitely helps me resist the urge to check work stuff after hours. Closing the door, if you have one, creates a nice visual cue that the workday is over. Small habits like those really make a difference.
the classic never-ending work laptop saga at home! Have you tried convincing your Wi-Fi router to take a coffee break? Just kidding, but seriously, what if you set up a "digital sunset" by scheduling your internet or work device to automatically disconnect at a certain time? It forces that hard stop no matter how much you want to sneak one last peek. It’s like telling your gadgets, -Enough, go outside and play! Do you think devices would rebel if this became a trend?
One way to truly switch off is to create a symbolic "work shutdown" moment that involves a physical object you associate exclusively with work. For example, keep a special pen or notebook only for work tasks. At the end of the day, put that pen away in a box or drawer and tell yourself aloud, "Work is closed until tomorrow." This helps your brain form a clear mental boundary between work time and personal time beyond just closing your laptop. You might say, "I’m putting my work tools away now so I can fully be present for myself tonight."
Switching off? Cute idea. Most just end up scrolling social media or doomscrolling news anyway. Real switch-off means accepting work never truly leaves you at home. Maybe try setting alarms to remind yourself "stop pretending." Spoiler: your brain won’t listen, but hey, try not to burn out completely.
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