Professor Alex Christou, Thrive Global Asia Pacific’s Managing Director, offers microsteps to help you switch off at the end of the day.

Q: I’m finding it really tough to separate work from home at the moment (like most people). When we’re homeschooling, my workday becomes much longer and it’s hard to then switch off and go to sleep. Aside from putting my phone away earlier, what microsteps can help me?

The pandemic has turned our work environments upside down, particularly when the commute home at night has shifted from taking a lengthy train or bus ride to just stepping into the next room! There are, however, some simple, easy-to-action steps that can help ease the end-of-day transition and support you to truly switch off.

Pack work away

No matter whether you have a dedicated home office, a desk in the spare room or work supplies all over the kitchen table, properly packing up your workspace is an important signal that your workday is done. Make it part of your daily routine. Log out, turn your computer off, put all supplies away, take your mug back to the kitchen, and, if possible, turn off the light and close the door on your workspace.

Acknowledge the end of the day

It can be really helpful to acknowledge, either verbally or silently to yourself, that you’ve finished for the day. An intentional acknowledgement such as ‘The workday is done and so am I’ can serve as an effective reminder to move on to home and family time.

Consider your clothes

You know that comfortable dressing gown that didn’t quite cut it for your Zoom meeting appearance? At the end of the work day, put it on. Now is the time for loungewear – it acts as yet another signal that you’re out of ‘business mode’. If you’re a tracksuit-and-slippers-under-the-desk kind of person, consider opting for a more professional outfit during work hours. That way, you’ll be able to make a really visual transition to ‘home time’ when you change at the end of the day.