Galia: When Work Didn’t Follow You Home

“The very idea that, once work hours were over, no one could get hold of you—via email, text, Slack, whatever—is completely alien to contemporary young people,” Kois explained. But this reality made a huge difference when it came to the perception of busyness and exhaustion. When work was done at work, and there was no chance of continuing your labors at home, your job didn’t seem nearly as all-consuming or onerous.

I’m convinced that my ability to switch off from work every single day without fail is one of the reasons I feel pretty good about my mental health when it comes to work. I start work earlier than most people and I’m very present & responsive while I’m working, but my colleagues know that if they send me something after 4PM, it’s unlikely they’ll hear from me until the next day.

I totally appreciate that not every job position nor every company allows for that, but if you’re in a position to do it, I really suggest trying.