I walk the dogs first thing in the morning, then "after work". As others have said it's a bit like a 'commute'. If I didn't have dogs I'd probably go a bit crazy, and I'd be back in the office offering treats to my co-workers.
Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?
81–90 of 318 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?
#82A few tips from working remote over the years:
1. Start your day by going out of the house - walk the dog, collect a newspaper, watch the sunrise, do some exercise.
2. When you return, shower and change into "work" clothes. Perhaps these are smarter than home clothes. Maybe a light shirt or collared t-shirt with some trousers. Wear the same as if you were meeting your boss (or their boss!). Personally I feel more professional when wearing 'work' clothes.
3. When finished your tasks switch off your work laptop and PUT IT AWAY somewhere like a laptop bag. The old adage "out of sight, out of mind" is very important when living in the same area as your "office". Physically packing it away means it's much more effort to use it again, thus helping resist the urge to "check something" when not necessary.
I am fortunate enough to have a spare room which I can lock the door. The key lives hung up elsewhere in the house - so I can't "pop into the office" on a whim.
4. End of the day go out of the house - again - then return and change into "home" clothes. The fresh air and physical detachment from your home allows you to unwind.
TL;DR - have specific work clothes; store your laptop out of sight; "commute" before and after work to get out of the house.
Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?
#83I just take half an hour naps a couple of times during the day. Otherwise I'm working from 8am to 2am. Life has really become meaningless due to this cursed pandemic.
Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?
#84Find somewhere else to spend the rest of your evening, even if it's just a different seat in the same room or something. That seems to be enough for me at least.
Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?
#85Simple - just stop doing work. It's literally as simple as that.
Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?
#86I met a guy that was in your situation. He would wake up with an alarm clock, shower, get dressed "properly", eat etc. Then leave the house and walk in a predetermined path around the block to arrive back at his house for "work". When work was over (at a set time) he would get up, leave the house again, walk the path in reverse, and arrive "home". ymmv.
Did this for a while. For anyone trying this, make sure the path is decently long (15min is nice in my experience), and that you build it into your morning routine - for me, I was not allowed to take my coffee before going for the walk.
Lol same idea... except that the morning commute was getting coffee. There were 2-3 places near me, and a 4th that is kinda far, so I'd throw in an extra around-the-block if I went to a closer one.
But yeah, get out, get moving. Inertia, man.
Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?
#871. Turn off all notifications on your device
2. Go out for exercise (running, swimming, climbing, boxing...). At the very least, I'll go walk for one hour.
Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?
#88I share a monitor and peripherals for both personal and work stuff, and find that an effective way to "turn off work mode" is to simply switch the hub from my work laptop to my personal computer so I'm not as tempted to go back to work.
Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?
#89Wife and kid make damn sure I'm switched off right at quittin' time
Edited to add: I work in my underwear and shower a couple times a week. Since there seems to be a bit of a grain to these comments I figured I should mention I go against it
Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?
#90Have a separate browser for work, close it, close all work related console tabs, put some youtube video or similar.