I close my laptop at 5:30 but my brain is still in work mode until like 9pm. I'm sitting at the dinner table thinking about projects and emails instead of listening to my kids talk about their day. Tried meditation, tried a walk, tried hitting the gym. Nothing really works. Do you guys have any tricks that actually help you decompress?
I've started using the drive home as my transition time. I don't listen to work podcasts or emails, just music or podcasts about literally anything else. It helps my brain shift gears.
Have you tried actually putting the phone in another room after work? I know it sounds simple but the physical separation helps my brain switch gears.
The 9pm thing is so relatable. Your brain is just spinning on work problems while your family is trying to talk to you. I had to really intentionally put work stuff away, like physically and mentally.
The dinner table should be your decompression zone but it's hard when work is still sitting there on your shoulder. Maybe some kind of ritual to mark the transition? Like a walk or changing clothes immediately?
This is the exact reason I made the switch to go into an office part time. Working from home blurred everything for me. Even just the commute gave my brain time to shift.
I struggle with this constantly. Even on weekends I'm mentally reviewing emails or thinking about tomorrow's meetings. Doesn't help that my phone is always in my pocket.
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This is the struggle. I close the laptop and physically I'm at the dinner table but mentally I'm still in meetings. It takes me a solid hour to really be present with my kids. Working dad guilt is real.
Have you tried telling your boss you need a hard stop at 5:30? I know that's easier said than done but sometimes the culture at work expects you to stay plugged in after hours. You might need to set that boundary first.