Even if the kids have gone back to in-person school at least part time, many of us are still working from home full time. One good thing about the kids going back to school: no more technology help-mes or endless snack requests. Another good thing? The kids now have a set place for their papers, projects, and books, that isn’t your dining table. One more really great thing? The kids now have a set school schedule, which starts with the first bell and ends with the last. No more school hours bleeding into home hours, when the day’s last assignment is submitted in pajamas at 8 p.m. Oh that we could say the same for our workdays! Let’s take a cue from the kiddos on how to leave the schoolwork at school, so we can learn how to leave our work in our home office.

Every worker has different needs for separating work time and personal time. Some people don’t mind answering email after hours because they took a half hour exercise break that morning. Other people need to keep set work hours and be done when the day ends. It’s all about what feels right for optimal mental wellness. Whatever your needs are, it’s important to develop a routine that signals the end of your workday and the start of your personal time. Watch how your kids transition from school to home: they may change out of their uniforms, grab a snack, or pick up a game controller. They are for sure not checking their school email when they hit the door!

Here are a few tips to help you transition from work to home:

Wear work clothes

Try dressing for the workday, only if swapping out your pajama shirt, and then changing into loungewear when you’re done with your work hours. It may mean more laundry, but it will be worth it in the long run.

Put on a playlist

The right music can get you in the zone and stimulate productivity. It can also cue your brain to start and end your workday. Again, this is an individual choice for what music works for you, whether it’s classic rock, a video-game soundtrack, or the trickle of your desktop fountain.

Unplug your devices

Set an actual end time for your workday—and then silence your devices. Turn off your laptop. Mute notifications for your work apps. If you have a separate work phone, set it aside for the evening. The work will wait until morning, and anyone with a true emergency (like your boss) has your personal cell number. Breathe.

Transition to home life

If you’re not able to end your workday when you pick up your kids from school, try building in a productive transition from work life to personal life. Clear off your desk (no moldy coffee cups for you!), and then do a few small things around the house. Walk to the mailbox, throw a ball for the dog, or fold that basket of laundry to tell your brain your workday is over, or you could go for the gusto and jump straight into dinner prep!

In conclusion

We all have different needs for our work and personal time, but we all need some measure of separation. It’s not healthy to feel on-call at a moment’s notice, every moment. By building in starting and ending cues to your work day, you’ll work at being your best!