One of the best pieces of stress management advice is to leave work at work and not to bring it home with you. Time at home should be a time to relax and rejuvenate. Besides — you are at home and not at work and cannot do the work even if you’re thinking about it. So why worry about it?
Not bringing work home with you is easier said than done. Especially if you are like me and telecommute. And more and more, people are working from home. So, how do you leave work worries at work time so that it doesn’t lead to ruining your free time?
If You Do Telecommute
Have only one room in the house where you work. That is your office. You do not bring any phones, laptops or reports to other parts of the house. Especially do NOT bring any work material in the room where you sleep (if you can avoid it). When you work, you do it in just the one room. That’s it. No exceptions. If you pick up a phone in a non-work room and the caller wants to talk work stuff, walk to your office to do it.
Over time, your subconscious will be programmed to associate your work room with work. Ever suddenly have to use the toilet when you just glimpse a restroom door? That’s the same principle. A familiar work room lets your brain know "Now it’s time to work." And the oppoosite as well "I’m not in the work room — I’m not working."
Transitioning Ritual
Another way you can help let your subconscious know that it’s time to leave work behind is to some sort of small ritual when you come home (or go to another part of the house to relax). Some people do this by changing clothes. We shed our work persona and problems as well as our work clothes. Remember when Mr. Rogers would take off his shiny black shoes and put on his loafers when the show began? That’s sort of the idea.
One thing I do is that I put on classical music CDs to let my mind know that it’s time to leave work problems behind and just relax. When I work, I either listen to nothing, or listen to pop, blues or world music. Taking a hot bath or shower is another great way to help leave work at work. Meditation is another way to at least get your mind to relax for a few minutes.
Using chemicals like a alcoholic beverages to transition from work to home is not recommended. They can not only wreck your health, but your body gets used to them. Then, you need to drink, ingest, snort or shoot more and more of the "tranquilizer" in order to physically relax.
It takes practice and gentle mental reminders to get used to the idea of leaving work behind once you get home. Be patient with yourself and laugh at yourself, if that helps you to relax. Even if you work at home, you don’t have to take work home with you.
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Write a Comment»“Another way you can help let your subconscious know that it’s time to leave work behind is to some sort of small ritual when you come home (or go to another part of the house to relax). Some people do this by changing clothes. We shed our work persona and problems as well as our work clothes. ”
~So are you saying I shouldn’t spend all day working in my pjs? Or perhaps you are saying I should get dressed before the family gets home to find I have spent all day in my pjs? Yeah…you’re probably right.
Good tips for the telecommuter, thanks.
I guess you could work all day in your PJs, depending on what kind of job you have.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Good guidelines for discipling ourselves to separate work from free time.
LOL, I’m not telling you what I wear when I need to do rush jobs from home. But I wear suits when I have to go to the client’s office.
This is a problem I have to deal with. Most week nights I will work from home as well. It stresses me out to a degree but sometimes it has to be done to make ends meet.
Perhaps there is one room in your home where you can work, so that’s the “work room”? Thanks for taking the time to comment.