Work-Life Balance: Knowing When to Log Off and Live

Let’s be honest, whether you work from home or in an office, work-life balance is a constant battle. For those of us working from home, the boundaries between work and personal life blur fast. And for those going into the office, the grind doesn’t stop just because you’ve clocked out.

No matter where we work, there’s always something pulling at our time.

As a WFH mom, I love the flexibility of being home. I can pick up my daughter from daycare, avoid a long commute, and squeeze in small household tasks between meetings. But that also means I’m always accessible. Emails at 7 AM, Team messages at 9 PM, urgent projects popping up at 4:58 PM with a “need this done by 6 PM” deadline (which, by the way, is impossible when I have to leave for daycare pickup).

For those in the office, the struggle is just as real. Long commutes, extended meetings, and the expectation to be available beyond working hours. Even if you’re physically away from your desk, your phone keeps buzzing with notifications, making it hard to ever truly “clock out.”

The Good and Bad of WFH vs. Office Life

The Good of Working from Home:

• No commute = More time for yourself or your family.

• Flexibility to run quick errands or do daycare pickup.

• More control over your environment (goodbye, freezing office AC!).

The Bad of Working from Home:

• No real “off” switch, work can bleed into personal time.

• More distractions (kids, housework, deliveries).

• The expectation to always be available since “you’re home anyway.”

The Good of Working in an Office:

• Clear separation between work and home.

• Face-to-face interaction with coworkers.

• Easier to shut down work at the end of the day.

The Bad of Working in an Office:

• Commuting eats up personal time.

• Rigid schedules with less flexibility for family needs.

• Meetings that could have been emails (we’ve all been there).

No matter where you work, the key to balance is knowing when to stop.

How to Protect Your Time (No Matter Where You Work)

Set a Hard Stop for Work​

If you’re working from home, decide on a cutoff time (ex: 6 PM) and stick to it. If you need to log in after bedtime, limit it to a set window (ex: 8:30-9:30 PM), but don’t let it turn into an all-nighter. If you’re in the office, commit to actually leaving on time whenever possible.

Mute Notifications After Hours

Turn off Slack, email, and work apps on your phone after hours. If it’s truly urgent, they’ll call you. If not, it can wait.

Push Back on Unrealistic Expectations

If a last-minute request comes in at 5 PM, ask:

• Does this truly need to be done tonight?

• Can we move the deadline to tomorrow morning?

• Can this be planned better next time?

More often than not, the urgency is artificial. Challenge it.

Create Transitions Between Work and Home​

If you work from home, do something after work to signal the end of the day. Take a walk, change your clothes, or step away from your workspace. If you work in an office, use your commute as transition time to mentally shift out of work mode.

Why This Matters for Your Mental Health

If you’re constantly “on,” burnout will hit fast. The longer you go without true balance, the more you’ll notice:

• Increased stress and anxiety.

• Lack of patience with family or friends.

• Trouble sleeping and exhaustion.

• Feeling disconnected from things you enjoy.

On the flip side, when you protect your work-life balance, you’ll feel:

• More present with your family.

• More productive during work hours (because you’re not running on fumes).

• More control over your own time.

Work is Important, But So Are You

Whether you work remotely or in an office, your time belongs to you first. Your job will always be there, but the moments with your family, your well-being, and your mental peace? Those are things you can’t get back.

So, when the workday is done, log off, walk away, and be fully present. Because at the end of the day, work can wait...life can’t.