Episode 19: Smart Habits for Delineating Your Workday
We hope that the topic of today’s episode is relevant not just for translators or interpreters, but for all freelancers! While we are used to working from home, we know that it's been an especially stressful time during the COVID-19 pandemic to delineate between work and personal time.
In this episode, we talk about different ways to delineate your workday—not in a general sense of setting boundaries, like we discussed in Episode 1 on Work/Life Balance, but specifically how to signal to yourself that your workday has come to an end—and how to shift from work mode to after-work mode, your time to rest and recharge.
This topic was a request from our listener and colleague Emily Safrin, who also happens to be the winner of our giveaway! A huge thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to Emily on winning a one-on-one financial mentoring session with Susie Jackson. We hope to do more fun events like this in the future to thank you, our listeners, for your support.
Back to the topic of delineating your workday… Since the pandemic began, many of us have had to deal with a disrupted schedule, care for kids or other family members, and work different hours than we’re used to working. It's more important than ever to think about different ways to draw the line between work and personal time, ways to end the workday and decompress.
Here is a summary of our conversation:
Our own struggles related to delineating when the workday starts and when it ends
What you can do at the end of your workday to set yourself up for success for the following day
Why clearing your office space, desk, or computer from clutter may be helpful
How you can use the timer method recommended by Matt Baird in Episode 18
Mindful ways to transition from work mode to rest mode with the help of exercise, reading, music, or creative hobbies
Our thoughts on the Workday Shutdown Ritual in the Full Focus Planner
Why visual cues can be helpful in establishing your own Workday Shutdown Ritual
What you can change about your physical environment to relax and get ready to rest
Why self-reflection, acts of kindness, or help offered to colleagues or clients can be the perfect way to end the day on a high note
resources we mentioned in this episode:
“At the end of the day I separate things: my life is my life, and my work is my work.”
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