Comments on: Leave Work At Work

By: Brad Isaac

Brad Isaac — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 01:28:01 +0000

I think I see a theme here. The key being we need to get away from work in the form of walking and shutting off electric gadgets.

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:13:23 +0000

The commuting tip is the hardest for me, unless I'm on foot or bike. My car is just another stress machine in my life. Grrrrr... After Priscilla Palmer's self development list Jenny and I have decided to try to help build the self development community. So we are holding a little contest. I would like to invite you, and anyone else interested, to find out more details at Win a $25 Gift Certificate.

By: Chris Butterworth

Chris Butterworth — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 04:05:01 +0000

Like the others, my commute is a simple walk down the stairs. But your point #8 is a big one for me – no matter what’s on my mind, and how important it is that I get back to it later in the evening, giving my family my full attention during “family time” is the difference between a fulfilling evening and one filled with angst. The days when I try to play dad, husband, and work-problem-solver all at the same time are the days I go to bed in a bad mood, full of frustration…

By: David B. Bohl at SlowDownFAST.com

David B. Bohl at SlowDownFAST.com — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 03:50:37 +0000

Great post.

I’m wondering how to make your first suggestion, “Treat your commute home as a positive time to wind down and start the process of relaxation”, work for me.

I work out of a home office and my commute is a matter of seconds, not miles.

The way I transition to relaxation, when I choose to instead of ‘working’ more (I love what I do), is to use the last 1/2 hour or hour of my day to turn off – the email, RSS feeds, phone – and to think creatively about where I am and where I’m going. Once I’ve put things into proper perspective, I’m able to leave ‘work’ at work and transition into my private life.

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 03:08:34 +0000

My office has been at home at least part of the time for the last 18 years, so I have had to learn how to “leave it” and “re-enter” life on a very short commute. Besides the ideas you listed, several that have been helpful over the years include:

***Get a jump on organizing the next day. This allows me to know I have things under control (well, somewhat) and I can let them go until I get back.
***Journal about the issues that are vexing me. David Allen (GTD) calls it mind dumping. At the very least I get it “out” rather than stew about it, sometimes I get perspective while writing, usually re reading it the next day or so the perspective jumps off the page for me.
***Inboxes to zero. Nice trick, makes me think I am up to date with everything that can be done, creating some breathing room.
***Practice forgiveness. This is always easier said than done, but the effort tends to erode my natural self-righteouness, and that is never a bad thing.
***Take a walk. The physical effort drains off the emotional and psychic crap (that is a technical term) that builds up, changes the endorphins (so I’ve been told by people who get paid big money to know about endorphins) and drains some of my aggressiveness.
***When all else fails just say phoooey (or your word of choice) I’m only human and need a few more minutes to get over this.

By: Guntar

Guntar — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 02:19:53 +0000

Well, It’s kinda hard for me to leave work at work. I love doing work at home. I can concentrate and build my FLOW better at home. But I do believe that our ability to produce and generate results are directly proportional to our ability to relax. What matters to me is the ability to rest completely, which I still have some issues with it actually ^_^