Can’t Stop Overworking? You Need a ‘Termination Phrase’
A simple technique from Cal Newport that can help you separate work and life
Like many of us, I’ve spent the past several months struggling to separate work life and life-life. Back when I worked in a co-working space, I had a visual cue that the workday was done — usually, it was when others started packing up their bags and trickling out the door — but now the days feel like an endless stretch of time. It’s all too easy for me to check email while eating dinner or take that client call just before bed (curse you, time zones!).
We all know we need off hours. In his TED talk, the psychologist Guy Winch notes that the more we ruminate about work when we’re not working, the more likely we are to experience sleep disturbances, eat unhealthier foods, and have worse moods. What’s more, overworking actually leads to underworking: A study at Stanford University found that after 55 hours of work each week, we’re essentially useless. It’s crucial to take time to recharge.
Having a post-work ritual helps. In an attempt to draw a boundary around that time, I’ve been writing down five things I achieved during the day and then closing my notebook. But Cal Newport, a Georgetown professor and the bestselling author of Deep Work, explains that there’s a way to take…
