Fewer and fewer jobs have clear signals about when work is done for the day. For most of us, the work never really ends. For that reason I think it’s really important to create some kind of routine that signals to yourself that the end of your day has happened and you can transition into non-work mode. Some ideas for inclusion in this routine include:

• Spend a few minutes planning for tomorrow.
• Clear off your desk and put all work materials away.
• Spend a few minutes writing in your journal about the day.
• Turn off your computer.
• Do something to help you transition from work mentality to home mentality (read something unrelated to work, play a short video game, listen to some music, etc.)

The details don’t matter as long as it helps you feel like you’re making a transition from one part of your day (productive/work) to another part (not work/relaxing/home).

Photo by Nir.