In today’s fast-paced, always-on world, too many of us struggle to disconnect from work, even when we’re not in the office. This constant connectivity can lead to burnout, stress, and a lack of work-life balance.
In this blog, we’ll explore the concept of “unworking” and how it can help individuals disconnect from work and find more balance in their lives.
What is Unworking?
Unworking is a concept that involves intentionally disconnecting from work and creating space for rest and rejuvenation. It involves setting boundaries around work, such as turning off notifications outside of work hours, not checking work email on weekends or vacations, and prioritising leisure time.
Why is Unworking Important?
Unworking is essential for maintaining physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Constantly being connected to work can lead to burnout, anxiety, and depression. Unworking allows individuals to disconnect from work, recharge, and return to work with renewed energy and focus.
Five Tips for Unworking
1. Set Boundaries
It’s essential to set boundaries around work to avoid burnout and maintain work-life integration. Turn off notifications outside of work hours and avoid checking work email on weekends or vacations. One way to help achieve this is to set communication norms within your working group, explain your working hours in your “out of office” or in your signature.
2. Prioritize Leisure Time
Make time for activities that bring you joy, such as spending time with family and friends, pursuing hobbies, or engaging in self-care activities. The activities that can truly take your mind off work and stress. If it has been a while since you did something like this, think of what you loved to do as a child.
3. Disconnect from Technology
Unplug from technology, such as social media or email, and spend time in nature, meditating, or engaging in mindfulness activities.
4. Practice Mindfulness
Engage in mindfulness activities, such as yoga or meditation, to help reduce stress and promote relaxation. This helps you become present in the moment — a key strategy to unwork.
5. Seek Support
Talk to friends or colleagues about the challenges of disconnecting from work and seek support from a mental health professional if necessary.
Unworking is an essential practice for maintaining physical, emotional, and mental well-being. It involves setting boundaries around work, prioritising leisure time, disconnecting from technology, and practising mindfulness. By incorporating these tips into your life, you can find greater happiness both in and out of the workplace.
This article originally appeared on Dr. Lisa Bélanger’s blog.
Dr. Lisa Bélanger shows leaders and teams how insights from psychology, neuroscience, and behavioural science can be applied in the workplace to optimize performance, productivity, and innovation.
Contact us to learn more about Lisa and how she’s helping audiences close the gap between intention and action, resulting in long-term change and a greater competitive advantage.
