We have all been guilty—there is a pressing assignment or task that needs to be completed and five o’clock comes and you still are not done, so you take the work home with you. After cooking dinner, spending time with family, and other items that must be done when you are home, you find yourself staying up until ungodly hours of the morning to complete the work. When you get to work the next day, you are lethargic, tired, and stressed, making it difficult for you to pay attention and focus. This begins a pattern which is hard to break way from. Taking your work home from the office regularly is not a good idea. Don’t do it!
Many of us are working ten to twelve hour days as it is, and bringing home work cuts into our personal time. Time in which we need in order to be a well rounded and healthy person. Those that have no off switch and continue to work around the clock without submitting to personal time away from the tasks of the office often have high blood pressure, are more under stress, and are at a higher risk of a heart attack. Separating your work from your personal life is a must in order to be a healthy person overall.
Know Your Boundaries
Your office work and goings on should stay exactly there—the office. Bringing your office home with you just may cause problems with your relationships with your loved ones. Commit time to cultivate your personal relationships outside of the office. The work will be there when you get there in the morning.
Plan Wisely
Coordinate your schedule at work to put in the most work effectively so you get your work done in the office and not at home. Break your day up completing tasks so you aren’t spending too much time on one task, therefore making you feel like you have to bring your work home with you to meet a deadline.
Delegate
If you are in the position to delegate duties and work to others in the office, please do so. Do not feel like you have to do any and everything when there are others that have been hired to assist you. Delegating and giving up duties to others will keep you focused and on track, and will also stop you from bringing work home with you.
Be Realistic
When given a task or deadline, make sure you are realistic with the terms and timeline. If you know something is going to take a week to complete, do not go on record and say that you can have it done within three days. Communicate effectively with those in your office and make sure you have realistic expectations.
Put You First
I’ve often said this many times on my blog: How can you truly and effectively help someone else when you do not help yourself first? In order to be there for others and to be successful, you have to put you in first priority. Know your stressors and aggregators and how to keep them in tact so you can put your best foot forward.
There is nothing wrong with bringing work home with you occasionally. But doing so on a consistent basis over time may bring nothing but problems and discontent within your personal circle. Know how to detach from the office for your overall mental and physical health.
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