Time to punch out

We've built a working world that spins fast, fast, fast. More than ever today, we often feel swept by the current — alone in front of our screens, not really focused, but our brains not really off either.

We try to wrap up everything before 5 pm, but the washing machine is loud and the runny-nosed kids aren't going to daycare. So we tell ourselves it's no big deal, that's what “flexibility” is for, and we'll finish prepping our meeting at 8, 9, maybe 10 pm.

Morning comes fast, and when we wake up it's clearly easier to grab our phone from under the pillow than to get up and open the curtains. By reflex, we check email: a delightful mix of work and personal. Then we can't help peeking at Slack — and there's that little red dot signaling a notification. Oops, did I miss a message yesterday?

A routine has quietly settled into our pandemic-era life. After two years of remote work, we suddenly realize that, day after day, we stretch our “8 hours” from 6 am to 10 pm. There's no real start, no real end. Just a foggy brain, a rising anxiety, a low-grade bad mood and a fierce craving for vacation.

It's not just me saying this — several studies confirm that being constantly connected, available and semi-engaged with work, at any hour, breeds growing anxiety. This false “flexibility” can also create friction with loved ones or hurt our health when we lack time to exercise, cook or sleep well.

Conversely, setting a strict end-of-day allows us to:

• Restore our emotional and cognitive resources;

• Reduce fatigue;

• Boost daily well-being;

• Raise life and work satisfaction;

• Lower stress and that constant overwhelmed feeling; and

• Increase engagement and motivation at work.

Not to mention the time we finally free up for an ice cream cone, a good book or a midweek apéro!

At Boite Pac, we think it's absolutely worth changing our collective habits to actually end our days at a reasonable hour — no compromise!

Ok, ok, all that's nice — but how do we actually finish our workday? Switch off, disconnect, flip to off? Easier said than done, sure, but here's a mini game plan inspired by Joe Robinson, work-family balance and stress management specialist.

Post-work ritual

→ A routine to dissociate from work thoughts and engage in experiences that bring our head and body back to a pre-stress state. AKA a Reset button you can hit each day! 🙌

1. Detachment: leave work at work and stop thinking about it, guilt-free! (Hard for you? Take five minutes to prep tomorrow's day and dump the stuff looping in your head onto paper.)

2. Relaxation: take 30 minutes for an activity that CALMS you. A short run, a hot shower followed by a mini meditation, a long walk home, or just listening to music on the subway.

3. Mastery: do something that stimulates you but isn't related to work. Listen to a podcast on a topic you love, learn a new recipe, do a small wine tasting, plan your next trip, etc.

4. Control: finally, take the time to structure your non-work life and book moments for hobbies, passions, social life, etc. Honestly, it's as important — if not (MUCH) more — to plan your life as it is to plan client meetings!

And you, at what time do you really stop working? Will you join us in the day-is-done movement?

Source: Work to live

Article written by Catherine, B Corp consultant (she/her)