1. Stop being your own worst enemy
For many of us, the habit of checking and rechecking our email on our phones can almost be like an obsessive addiction. Whether we’re on the way to work, on our lunch break or even in the middle of a meeting, our smartphones are within fingertip reach. According to Fast Company, research has shown that constantly checking email is highly stressful, which ultimately impacts our productivity and creativity. And the same goes for checking work emails after hours.
So stop being your own worst enemy. Remove the push notifications from your phone so that you’re not notified every time you receive an email. And if you have to check your work email on weekends, limit these checks to once or twice a day.
2. Be clear on your hours and responsibilities
If you’re negotiating a new role, being promoted or working for a new boss, make sure you’re clear on whether responding to work emails after hours is expected or not. With international companies, there’s often a necessity to work with colleagues in different time zones, so make sure you understand the needs of your role. Some roles require 24/7 availability but the remuneration should reflect this. Always make sure you know what kinds of circumstances will require you to work outside of normal hours and negotiate where you need to.
3. Take the initiative
Many of us make exceptions to respond to urgent out of hours emails or calls when work is exceptionally busy. But if you’re finding yourself in a situation where your health is impacted negatively by being constantly connected, it’s time to review your situation and set some boundaries with your boss. Enter into the conversation in a non-emotive way. If it wasn’t part of your original agreement, state the facts, but be respectful about the situation. It may be necessary to come to a compromise. For example, be accessible when you need to be but find other ways to get some time to relax and recharge.