Guard against overwork by setting limits

Alex loved working from home but soon found his screen aglow at midnight. He’d answer one last email, then another—until sleep was stolen. His mind buzzed, and by morning he felt drained. He was part of the ‘always-on’ trap remote work can lure you into.

Real productivity isn’t measured by hours but by sustainable effort. When Alex tracked one week, he saw he was easily doing sixty-plus hours. To reclaim balance, he wrote down three outcomes that defined a ‘good day’s work.’ The moment those tasks were done, he shut the lid.

Behavioral studies on burnout show that clear boundaries and self-imposed limits protect creativity and health. Alex told his teammates he was offline after 6 PM. At first it felt awkward, but he soon found that fewer late-night pings arrived and his focus in the day sharpened.

By explicitly defining work windows and sticking to them, remote workers like Alex avoid the feast-or-famine cycle. They sustain energy, creativity, and personal well-being over the long haul.

Log your start and end times this week to see where you overshoot. Then list three key deliverables that define a ‘‘good day’s work’’ and commit to ending once they’re done. Finally, share your new working window with your team and family so everyone respects it. You’ll soon feel clearer, rested, and more creative. Try defining your first boundary tonight.