Balancing Work & Home: Allowing yourself to disconnect

Hi everyone,

This is a series I am aiming to write about couple times a month.  This is still something I struggle with, but I have definitely made strides in the past couple of years.

There was a time where my plate was so full that I felt I needed to stay on top of my work emails from home.  It helped me efficiently plan my tasks for the next work day.  I really like being busy at work, but I have to be efficient at it.

Thanks to smartphones, we have access to such things at our fingertips .  It is dangerously easy to not disconnect from work.  When I used to ride the train home, my commute was close to an hour and a half each way.  I had a lot of time and well my phone was right there...

Since I drive to work, I can't be on my phone as I commute which really has helped me unplug from work. Listening to podcasts has also helped veer my mind onto other subjects further helping me bring an end to my work day.

I used to get home and vent to my husband about everything that went wrong that day.  I wouldn't mention what went right, and what I'd accomplished.  Just what went wrong because all I would do was think about it on my commute.  It would simmer and simmer, and I just had to let it all out when I got home.

The disconnect helps me appreciate what went right every day, and helps me see how trivial some of the things that I used to get so worked up about.  Now that I'm not all agitated when I get home, makes the evening and nighttime routines all that much more enjoyable.  It puts me in a better mood which overall has an impact on everyone else in the house.

Does that mean I never check email from home?  I'll be really honest, I still do.  It still helps me prioritize my mornings to know what's waiting for me.  If it's something complex, it gives me time to mull it over.  But I don't check it like I used to and I usually wait until Sami's asleep.

All in all, whatever ways you can find to help yourself disconnect from work will make a huge difference in your life.  Maybe you can never totally disconnect from work, but give your mind a little break - even if it's just for a couple hours.  It'll do you, and your family some good.