Work-life balance is an important issue. Modern technology allows work to follow us everywhere. We can take calls, answer emails, and track efforts online day or night, from anywhere. With remote log-in, being at home can be just like being at work. Many of us have likely done some work tasks from home or while on vacation.

For those in the gig economy, time off work is an illusion. You are always looking for the next assignment or opportunity to get the next job and the next payday.

I don’t need to tell you that being on call 24/7 isn’t a healthy way to be. In some jobs, it’s a necessity. Medical professionals and first responders often serve “on call” hours as part of the job. Teachers typically spend time each evening and on weekends doing lesson plans and grading papers. People in certain types of communications jobs need to be ready to respond at a moment’s notice. But even if your job requires a certain amount of on-call access, you still need to attend to your work-life balance.

Here are some ideas:

• If at all possible, turn off email notifications from work.
• If it isn’t required, break the habit of checking work messages outside of work hours.
• Become a more discerning judge of what requires an immediate response. Sometimes, people email or text at odd hours because they had an important thought and don’t want to lose it. They neither demand nor expect an immediate response from you.
• Invest time in training your staff to handle as much as possible when you are out of the office.
• If you are a boss, break the habit of contacting your employees outside of work hours, barring a significant need.

When you are home, focus on the people there and on relaxation and restoration. A well-rested and focused employee for 8 hours a day is more useful than an exhausted, unfocused one for 10!!