How to Avoid Sacrificing Your Evening Due to Work

Three Steps to Plan to Unplug

 

I was talking with a couple of guys while traveling and we were discussing our routine when we get home from work.

The first guy mentioned how difficult it was for him to unplug when he came home from work. He knew he should but was struggling in this area.

The second guy had a completely different situation. He works from home and never really stopped working.

Both ultimately had the same ending problem: the inability to unplug from work and be truly home. Their situations were different but in the end, the same conclusion.

 

Motivated, busy professionals have many benefits to their wiring. But they also have some drawbacks and one of those is the inability to shut work off.

But does it have to be this way? Could you actually plan to unplug? What if there was an actual plan that allowed you to be fully present for your family?

Here Are Three Steps to Help You Plan to Unplug:

Step 1 – Decide What Would It Take To Officially Unplug

Each of us are completely different and as a result, our unwind will look differently.

But the question is simply:

[tweetthis]What do you need to do to allow you to be fully present with others when you get home?[/tweetthis]

Here are some ideas that others are using that may give you inspiration:
Working Out
Reading
Watching the News or a Short Show
Doing a Hobby
Talking With Your Spouse

One suggestion if you commute is to use the drive time as your time to unwind. Have a purpose in the drive time to unplug not just waste time to get home.

 

Step 2 – Determine How Long It Will Take To Unplug

Once you determine what it will take to unplug, you’ll have a better idea of how long it will take.

The key is balance. You need enough time to get unplugged but yet not too long where you miss time with your family.

This may take some practice.

Let’s say you choose reading the paper or watching the news. Five minutes might not be enough but 30 minutes may feel selfish and MORE than enough for you to unplug.

Be conscious of how recharged you are after your “unplug activity” then adjust accordingly.

 

Step 3 – Develop How You’re Going to Implement Unplugging

Once you know what you’re going to do to unplug and how long it’s going to take, now it’s time to implement it.

Here are a few suggestions:

Let others know your plan – when you do this, they will respect it and hopefully support it knowing you’re ultimately doing it so you’ll be more engaged with them

Prepare for it – if you plan ahead, you can maximize this time. If you choose 20 minutes, don’t waste half of that time getting ready to unwind then add on another 20 minutes to pay for your lack of planning. Others will NOT appreciate this if you agreed to the 20 minutes.

Set Boundaries – I work from home when I’m not traveling and it’s SO tempting to let the work day and my family time bleed into each other if I’m not careful. It’s SO easy to compromise and “just take a moment to return this email or…” You know where THAT leads. This needs to be a conscious choice.

If you work in an office, choose NOT to bring work home with you.

Do what it takes because it’s that important to unplug.

Evaluate It – after a few weeks, how is it working? Is it meeting the objective? How could you make it better?

Did you choose too much time or you simply need a little more time?

For example, you may find not checking your work email or phone after a certain time is needed. Or may you just simply need to move your computer or phone into ANOTHER ROOM so you have to take the temptation away from you.

The Ultimate Goal

Is being present and available for others for the remainder of the evening and letting work be in the past not the present and your unplug MUST be this ultimate purpose.

And if you listen, they’ll let you know if you’re holding up to your commitment to unplug.

 

Closing Challenge…

In the end, there are two major prices for not unplugging:

The family pays for it – if you choose to come home and never truly turn work off, your family knows and pays the price of a dis-engaged parent and / or spouse. The consequences are not immediate but long term and difficult to undo.

Remember, you’ve been engaged at work all day. They need and deserve your time AND your attention.

You never really rest – you may get the quick win in the short term by continually working but your quality of work definitely suffers with quantity.

Your mind NEEDS to shut and down and rest for you to ultimately be at your highest productivity level.

 

Closing Questions…

What are you going to do to unplug?
How long will your unplug activity take?
How are you going to implement it?