Loud Thinking

THE MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY: Harvard Business Review

April 2, 2015

Make a Small Change to Disconnect from Work

We know that working excessive hours leads to exhaustion and impaired judgment. Yet it’s still so hard for many of us to disconnect. Make it easier by thinking small. Rather than trying to modify all of your work habits, find one thing you can change about your behavior and start there. For example, try leaving your smartphone in another room when you get home at night so you won’t be tempted to check your work email. Or spend a few minutes learning how to program the emails you send in the evening to arrive first thing in the morning – that way you’re not sucked into a back and forth with colleagues at all hours. Or find a new, enjoyable activity to fill your time. Take up biking, join a sports league, or sign up for baking lessons.

Adapted from “Working Too Hard Makes Leading More Difficult” by Ron Friedman.