Finding the right balance between professional success and personal time is often a huge challenge, almost impossible, but not unattainable.
According to career expert Emily Durham, if you're having trouble setting boundaries between work and personal life, start with the weekends. Focus on ways you can stop thinking about work during these days off.
Below are three strategies that experts recommend for mentally disconnecting from work over the weekend:
1. “Clean” emails and complete tasks before the end of the week
To have a smooth weekend, you need to prepare yourself on Friday. Before you leave work, organize your inbox and to-do list. You don't have to respond to every email, just prioritize and file the rest in a folder that you can open on Monday.
Durham stresses the importance of creating a sense of "closure" before you log off your work computer on Friday. Don't forget to turn off or disable notifications from work apps. The clearer the boundaries you set between your career and personal time, the more you give your mind and body a chance to unwind.
2. Plan something concrete for Friday evening
The weekend starts on Friday afternoon, so don't let it go to waste. Often, we try to finish every task on Friday and end up working harder than usual, entering the weekend tired and lacking energy.
Career experts advise making specific plans for Friday evening, whether it's coffee with friends, a relaxing activity, or even an appointment with your beautician. These plans will motivate you to finish tasks on time and leave work without guilt or insecurity.
3. Turn off your work phone.
We've said it before and we'll say it again: set clear boundaries. Why keep up with work on the weekends when it's time to relax and take care of yourself and your loved ones?
When we say "work phone," we don't just mean a physical device, but any app, notification, or email that mentally pulls you back to work. Turn it off or put it on silent/mute. The stronger the boundaries you set between your work and personal life, the more space you give yourself to recharge.
Don't work for free on the weekend. Don't sacrifice your personal life for emails that can wait until Monday.
