Secrets to switching off when you work from home

Back in the days when I worked in an office, I used to relish the commute home, 20 minutes in the car with my music on (loud), it helped to separate work from home life.

Now I work from home and it's so much harder to let go at the end of the day. I knew I couldn’t be alone in this, so I posted this question on Linkedin

'If you work from home how do you switch off?’

The response was quite overwhelming

I wasn't alone. With thousands of views, dozens of people took the time to share their own experiences and the different ways they have found to make the switch.

Their different approaches included the right set up, a ‘packing up’ process, active ways to move on and tips to keep away.

So, with thanks to everyone who shared here are 10 great ways to help you really switch off at the end of the day.

1. Work in a defined space, separate from home life. If you hot desk around your home, dining table, kitchen, sitting room it can then be difficult to see those places as relaxing. Having a defined work space in a spare room or purpose built 'garden shed' allows you to close the door on work.

2. Finish at the same time every night – you could set an alarm to signal ‘home time’

3. Make the last task of every day, 5 or 10 minutes of planning for the following day.

4. Actually ‘pack away’ – tidy papers, tuck those pens away – get things back where they belong leaving your desk clear – so you can get up and walk away.

5. Change out of ‘work-clothes’. OK, so there is no dress code when you work from home but, saving those comfy tracksuit bottoms for after work, is part of the mental shift to ‘relax’

6. Get out! - Physical exercise was the most common suggestion. From walking the dog to running or cycling, with the added benefit of fresh air and nature to clear the mind. Yet for many people the end of the work day is the start of family time so getting out is not an option.

7. A 5-minute meditation making time to be still and quiet. Whether you focus on your own breath or download an app – it can help to quiet your mind in a short space of time.

8. Instead of trying to clear your mind, engage it in something else

• Cooking – rather than whipping up the usual, plan a recipe and enjoy the process as well as the result.

• Play music or watch the TV ( this fits in well with finishing at the same time each night – challenge yourself with the Chase or sit down in time for Emmerdale.

• Quizzes & games from Crosswords to Candy crush – occupy your active mind.

These days when you can run your business from your phone the difficulty can be staying way.

9. People admitted to ‘hiding’ the phone/laptop or putting it away in a drawer. At least turn off the notification ‘ping’ for email and social media.

10. Finally have a pen and paper handy. If things come to you later in the evening, or overnight you can jot them down rather than switching on your laptop.

Of course, sometimes we don’t want to stop, that project, that design, we are enjoying ourselves to much. Yet it is worth remembering, time away allows your subconscious to work (like software upgrades that happen overnight) which can result in simple solutions or brilliant new ideas.

So, there you have it - I hope some of these tips help you and please share your own secrets to switching off in the comments below.

Janet Doran , works as a Strategic Business Coach across North Yorkshire, UK. enabling small business owners to win in competitive markets.

Find out more at www.thepositivepen.co.uk or call 07505 120051 and Follow her on twitter https://twitter.com/thepositivepen

One of the key benefits business owners get from working with a business coach is that ‘protected’ time to work on the business instead of it in. If you are thinking about working with a business coach in 2019 please give me a call.