Working From Home: 9 Things We Must Do Before Logging Off

When we work from home, there is one problem that always bugs us. We are not sure how to bring our workday to a close. When we work from home, it is hard to draw a line between personal life and working hours. 

Back then, it was easier. Clock out, and you are officially off work. Clocking out was the line. But now, everything is blurry. Suddenly, it is already sunset, and we are scrambling to log off. But some people keep feeling that their workday is not over.

Before we log off, we must have an End-of-Day checklist to ensure that we are truly done for the day and that we are in control of our work. 

 

1. Set a time to power down before ending your day

When you have a regular end-of-day routine, you will know how much time you will need to get ready to log off. We can start with 20 or 30 minutes. For some accountability, add the time on your alarm to let yourself know that you have some time to wrap things up. 

 

2. Limit the inbox-checking time

We have a terrible habit of checking our work inbox too many times. What we should do is set aside time blocks for checking our email. Set a time block at the very end of your workday and use it to tie up loose ends awaiting your attention. 

 

3. Improve a relationship

Working from home means that we do not see our coworkers a lot anymore, and if we do, it is probably for work reasons. Take some time to ask them how they are doing and talk about your interests. The pandemic is taking its toll on us all, and a little conversation can go a long way. 

 

4. Check-in with your superiors

It is a good idea to ask for a quick status update for assignments or projects you are working on. When we work from home, it is always better to over-communicate than not communicating enough. The last thing you need is a boss that is not aware of what you are doing. 

According to SHRM, people who work from home are working longer than before.

5. Review the progress you made on that day

What have you accomplished for today? What are the tasks that you have not finished? We should spend a few minutes to recap what we have done for the day, current projects, and what work is unfinished before we log off. 

 

6. Be honest about what we have been putting off 

If you did not finish your to-do list for the day, do not worry. There will always be more work to do, but the first thing we must do is to accept the fact. This step is crucial if you want healthily adapt to remote work. We should be generous with ourselves but still be honest about any tasks we may have purposefully delayed. Ask yourself this: Is there a way to break down that task so that it feels more manageable?

 

7. List down what needs to be done for tomorrow morning 

When we plan ahead, we reduce the chance of panicking over work by tomorrow's sunset. The best way to prepare is by doing these:

1. Write out tomorrow's entire to-do list.
2. Colour code the tasks according to levels of urgency. It will help you to prioritise your work. 

But if you are just starting, try to find out the first three tasks you must do before 10 am tomorrow. 

 

8. Log off: Same time, every day

Now that we are ready to log off, try to make it a daily habit. Otherwise, we will end up staying late to answer new emails that come in after working hours. When you log off at the same time, you are not only protecting your boundaries. You are also adding some structure to your workday. 

 

9. Ensure that you are logging off 

People like to close their laptops without closing the browser tabs. If you are using the same computer for work and leisure, you should ensure that no work stuff is on the screen. It will help give your brain more breathing room. Also, it will make you less vulnerable to hackers. 

 

Source: FairyGodBoss/Liv McConnell

 

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