Comments on: What do YOU do to stop working at the end of the day?

By: jennifer

jennifer — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:10:27 +0000

@Mark – Kiddos will definitely keep you on track. I’ll bet, in your pre-parental days, you aren’t kidding about the drowsy eyes.

@Emma – You are in SUCH good company.

@Lean – Great thoughts. I love how you have all kinds of things you *could* do if you decided to stop.

@Gina – Ahhh… The Lager Strategy. Kinda kills the motivation to relax with a brew and hang out with loved ones. Sounds like it works like a charm!

@Vicky – Calculating the hourly rate is a great idea. Sobering. I love all your other ideas, too. Sounds like you’ve got some great strategies worked out (even if they don’t always work). Nice to see you here!

@Jennifer – Exactly. I love your strategies… I think that you and Lean are inspiring me to write a list of Things I Like To Do when I’ve stopped working. And I promise you it won’t have any housework on it.

By: Jennifer Louden

Jennifer Louden — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:02:54 +0000

Declaring a set time to stop each day, and it differs each day, helps. Deciding ahead of time (key!!) what to look forward to and what I really want to do that evening, also helps. Being in love helps, having a teenager, loving to read!

By: Vicky White

Vicky White — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:49:49 +0000

Jen – you’re obviously not the only one! I sometimes look at what these kind of hours make my hourly rate! Sobering….. but like you, my best solution is to have something else planned – especially with someone else involved – but then as an introvert it’s too much to do that every day! Easy to get into that wandering the house wondering what I’m meant to be doing – emails etc create some structure that’s comfortable – which means structure has to be the way to go for me – perhaps more definite structure with myself – and yummy treats planned (not of the food kind!).

By: Gina

Gina — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:51:41 +0000

LOL.. yeah, stopping. What is that, right?

Well, this may not be the best practice, but I’ve developed a Pavlovian response to 5pm dinner prep time to crack open a lager. I often intend to get back to do another hour or two later, but my mind and motivation are just not in the same place. I’m not drunk or anything, mind you just relaxed.

I’m learning how to let that be punctuation enough, so I can get ready for the next day. Cheap date for hubs and me lately has been heckling the tv every night.

Great fun!
.-= Gina´s last blog ..Hello, My Name Is… =-.

By: Léan Ní Chuilleanáin

Léan Ní Chuilleanáin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:41:24 +0000

What is this “stop working” of which you speak?

Dinner, followed by my two little boys’ bedtime, is an effective break in my evening, but unfortunately, their being asleep is often the one thing that allows me to get some work done! So I have a tendency to work right up to my own bedtime, which is not good.

Having books to read, crafts to do, and an appointment to watch a DVD with my husband helps. But not if there’s a deadline.

By: Emma Newman

Emma Newman — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:26:45 +0000

So glad you can’t see my blushes. I am *terrible* at this. I find it almost impossible to relax. I’m trying to find something to make me stop earlier, and have made a concerted effort to have at least a couple of hours relaxation at the end of the day – but my brain just doesn’t stop.

By: Mark Silver

Mark Silver — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:06:55 +0000

Eventually my eyes blur, and my head falls onto my keyboard… or is that the wrong answer?

For me, my new family (twin nearly-10-month-old boys) are very effective at getting me to stop work. Family time pre-empts work time, just like you and your spouse with dinner.