On the Job: At Home

In the era of smartphones, e-mail, and cloud computing, it can be difficult to keep work at the office. We are always in contact with our coworkers and supervisors, and it can be easy to try to get "just one thing" done on a Saturday.

Don't.

Unless you work a position or on a project where you have to be in communication at all times, walk away from work when you are not in the office. It is hard to not work, particularly if you see e-mails accumulating in your inbox. I'm guilty of working on the weekend as much as the next person. That's the world we live in today. That said, unless the issue is pressing, stop working when you can. It's the weekend, or your vacation, or simply after hours. You have left the office and should leave work alone.

When you reply to e-mails 24/7 you set the precedent that you can be interrupted at any time. If you don't set limits on when and where you can be reached, you risk becoming that person everyone bugs (even when you're on vacation). By not replying to work requests, you set boundaries of how and when you can be contacted. Work emergencies are always the exception, but "everyday" stuff should be treated as such and left for the regular work day.

Also, if you find yourself working during your downtime, you risk burnout and making errors. If you're working during non-office hours, it's likely that your not giving 100 percent of your attention to your project. Trying to multi-task on work during personal hours is not fair to yourself or the office.

When the day is done, leave the work on your desk. It will be waiting for you when you get back to the office.


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