When you work from home, the day has no natural ending. There is no train to catch and no colleague putting on a coat. One more message becomes another, and before long the evening has begun. Many people find that work slowly spreads into every corner of the day. A fixed time for switching off can put a stop to this.
Choose a moment that suits your own routine and stick to it. Write it in your diary like any other appointment. When the time comes, save your work and close the open files one by one. Then shut the computer down completely instead of just closing the lid. The small ritual tells your mind that the working part of the day is over.
Preparing the final stretch
The last stretch before that moment deserves some care. Use it to finish small tasks and to note what you will begin with tomorrow. A single line on a piece of paper is enough. This means you can stop without a nagging feeling that something has been forgotten. It also makes tomorrow's start easier.
Tell the people around you when you are finished. A colleague who knows your end time will not expect a reply after it. Family members will know when you are free to join them for supper or a walk. Clear signals prevent small misunderstandings and awkward silences. Nobody has to guess whether you are still working.
Some days, a task will run over and tempt you to carry on. Ask yourself whether it truly cannot wait until the next morning. Often the answer is that it can, and that you will do it better after a night's rest. On the rare days when it cannot, finish it and switch off straight afterwards. The habit survives because you make exceptions sparingly.
Once the screen is dark, do something that has nothing to do with work. Go for a stroll, cook a meal or simply sit by the window with a cup of tea. This gives the evening its own character. Your mind can rest, and you return the next day with more energy. A fixed end to the day is a small boundary with a large reward.
