Sure Moves to Help You Quit Working When You Clock Out
By: Bean Jones
Time to Disconnect. If your laptop is the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see at night, 24/7. Then, it's time to rethink your work-centered routine.
Are you the kind of person who works on weekends and holidays even if you don't really need to? If you are, then it's time you chuck your nonstop, round-the-clock work schedule.
Though it's not easy for many workaholics to sit back and relax, these three simple moves should help ease you into a routine that makes room for you to "recharge" in every way:
1. Draw the line. Free your mind from work-related concerns as soon as you leave your office. "Your ability to do a good job at work depends on whether you have a personal life that refreshes and restores you," states social psychologist Jane Adams, author of Tradeoffs. As the saying goes, "All work and no play makes one a dull person." So, the moment you step into your home, resist the urge to turn on your computer or your laptop. The paperwork can wait.
2. Limit shop talk. If you see your workmates outside work, set some strict rules for your after-office conversations. You can spend, say, 15 minutes talking about the latest project you're working on. Use the rest of the off-work meet-up to get to know your workmates even better. Talk about your favorite TV shows or your pets.
3. Embrace all that's new. Douglas Rushkoff, author of Get Back in the Box: Innovation from Inside Out, states, "To lead a more fulfilling personal life, expand your exposure to people you don't work with." Otherwise, your life experiences will be confined to your workplace. Enrich your life by taking time to learn new things. Sign up for an online art course or music class, explore the scenic spots in your neighborhood, or try out the signature dish of a newly-opened restaurant.
Bottom line: You must always remember that you work to live. It's shouldn't be the other way around.
Credits: Photo by Petr Kratochvil, courtesy of Public Domain Pictures.
