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[Shane McCarron]

In the blog today I wrote about my current problem with relaxing.  I could use some good ideas about how to cleanly separate work from life.

[Eric Beavers]

I use OmniFocus to manage my tasks and projects. I separate my projects into very general Home and Work projects. When I'm at work, I use the Focus option to only see work tasks. When I'm at home, I do the same for Work tasks. This seems to help.

I still struggle with my iPhone, which I track work e-mail on as well as my personal e-mail. My OCD nature won't allow the icon to hold onto unread messages very long. In these cases, I'll skim the work e-mail long enough to mark them as unread. This lets me know if I need to put out any real fires and leaves those messages in my inbox to check when I get back to the office.

[Brad Blackman]

I wish I knew what to tell you, Shane. I typically don't think about work stuff when I'm not at work. But it looks like you've got a lot more invested in it than I do. I suppose one way to put it all in perspective is to ask yourself if something is worth getting all worked up about, and consequently shortening your life.

[Shane McCarron]

I didn't realize how personal that blog posting would come across.  Thanks for these messages and the private ones I have gotten as well.

Obviously I have a personal issue here (well, more than one), but I was sort of hoping this would kick off a discussion of how people deal with this sort of problem in general.  What are good strategies for separating work and life?  How can we make our work more efficient so that it takes the least amount of time so that we have more time for life?  For creativity? I am sure any of your ideas will help me, but they will likely help others as well.

So how about it?

[technotheory]

I have a lot of thoughts on this, Shane...and I'm sorry to hear that you've been struggling.  I've been there, and still find myself overwhelmed all too often.  Some of the things that have helped me:

* Total immersion.  You pointed out that you let yourself get totally immersed, but I wonder what type of leisure/vacation you're choosing and whether it allows for total immersion.  Having kids it makes it a bit more difficult (though I can't speak to it), but for me getting around PEOPLE and not just PLACES that are more leisure-oriented has been a huge help.  When the culture you're around knows how to take things slower then you will feel it, too.  For some people that means the beach, for me it's Spain...or when I don't have the time for that, St. Michael's MD (as I live near there).  But the idea is I need everyone around me to be living the way I want to be living/feeling at that time.  A trip with or around other busy people trying to shift modes is not the same as people who live that way all the time.

* Timezones.  If it's not possible for you to deal with the problem when it comes up, then you won't.  No joke.  Spain helps for me (6 hrs ahead is great for when I want to be productive and then be left alone).  Asia is the ultimate (because 12 hours time difference is nearly impossible for working when they are). 

* No cellphone data coverage.  Amazing what that'll do to you : ).  Yes, you can create it yourself...

Those are some environmental decisions that can help.  But on a day to day basis when I want leisure, I try to make sure I enjoy at least one meal, and eat it slowly, every day.  I spend too much on food and I love it.  I'm not a big guy, I just love enjoying the senses.

Some other things: audiobooks that take place in completely different environments (i.e., immersion without the immersion), going running (don't ever underestimate the physical role in all work-life balance issues), and just saying "screw it" every once in a while because the work will still be there the next day.

I guess I got a little off topic...but those are some ideas that I hope will help : ).

Cheers,
Jared