I Worked Until Midnight Every Night — Then I Set These 4 Boundaries
"Just one more email." It was 11:47 PM. I'd been working for 14 hours straight.
Remote work was supposed to give me freedom. Instead, I was always "on." Here's how I finally drew the line.
Boundary #1: I Close My Laptop at 5 PM (Literally)
❌ Before:
My laptop stayed open on the kitchen table "in case something urgent came up." It was never urgent.
✅ Now:
At 5 PM, I physically close my laptop, put it in a drawer, and don't open it until 9 AM the next day. This single action changed everything.
The rule: If it's truly urgent, someone will call. In 6 months, no one has called.
Boundary #2: Slack Notifications Off After 5 PM
What I did:
- Set Slack to "Do Not Disturb" from 5 PM to 9 AM
- Turned off badge notifications on my phone
- Added my work hours to my Slack status
- Used Timezone Availability to communicate my schedule
What changed: I stopped checking Slack while cooking dinner. My stress dropped immediately.
Boundary #3: Dedicated Workspace (Not My Bedroom)
Working from bed ruined my sleep. My brain couldn't separate work from rest.
The fix: I created a dedicated work corner with a desk. When I leave that corner, work is over.
No desk space? Use a specific chair, or even a lap desk you only use for work. The key is separation.
Boundary #4: I Schedule "Unavailable" Time
I block these times on my calendar as "Busy":
- 12-1 PM: Lunch (no meetings allowed)
- 5-6 PM: Personal time / gym
- Fridays after 3 PM: No meetings, focus work only
If it's on my calendar, it's protected time. I treat it like a meeting with myself.
What Happened When I Set Boundaries
✅ My productivity increased
Knowing I had to stop at 5 PM made me focus during work hours. Less time, better work.
✅ My manager respected my boundaries
I thought they'd be upset. Instead, they said "Good for you. You're modeling healthy behavior."
✅ I sleep better
My bedroom is for sleep again, not work stress.
FAQ: Work-Life Balance for Remote Workers
How do I set boundaries working from home?
Set firm work hours, create a dedicated workspace, turn off notifications after hours, communicate your availability clearly, and physically close your laptop at end of day.
What are healthy work-life balance boundaries for remote workers?
No work emails after 6 PM, dedicated lunch breaks away from desk, separate work and personal spaces, and communicating offline hours to your team.
How do I stop working late when I work from home?
Set an alarm for end of workday, schedule personal activities right after work, close all work apps at a specific time, and create an end-of-day shutdown routine.
Written by Melanie Komjatiová, Remote Work Consultant and founder of RemotelyYou.co.