Let’s have a moment of silence for the 9–5. Nowadays, it seems everyone comes in early, stays late, works through lunch, and is expected to be tied to their work phone and laptop after hours. Of American employees, 40 percent regularly work more than 50 hours per week, while 20 percent work more than 60 hours. If this sounds familiar, how is this lack of work-life balance working out for you?

Not so great? Then maybe it’s not time to bury that 9–5 just yet. But change starts with your habits! So take back your work-life balance with these tips to end your workday at day’s end.

• Tell your boss you want to start leaving on time. To set the stage for change, especially if you’ve made a habit of burning the midnight oil, sit down with your boss. Explain that moving forward, you’d like to start leaving on time at least a few days a week, and that you’re managing your workflow to facilitate this more reasonable schedule. Ask your boss and your colleagues for their support of your new schedule.
• When you do leave on time, don’t feel guilty! If you’ve explained your intentions to your office, hopefully you’ll avoid any snarky remarks or dirty looks when you pack up at 5—even if your coworkers don’t pack up too. Don’t let their voices or that little voice inside your head get the better of you! This is the schedule you need to be happy and healthy, and there’s nothing wrong with leaving on time after a full day.
• Make and stick to your project schedules. Procrastination starts young (remember those all-nighters before midterms?), and this bad habit has a bad habit of sticking with us into our professional lives. But procrastinating won’t help you walk out the door on time. So be sure to tackle must-do tasks early each day or week, and plan your project schedules so you’re not cramming at the last minute.
• Build “me time” into your office calendar. Some people block off their rest breaks in their personal calendars—15 daily minutes of “Busy.” Not only does this ensure they have the time free when they need it, but it’s also a reminder to take that time. So if you want to start leaving at 5 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, put a “Busy” block on your calendar beginning at 4. This will curb those late-afternoon meetings that threaten to keep you late.

You work hard! So you deserve a work-life balance that meets your needs. If you find yourself consistently staying late, feeling resentful, or burning out, leaving on time may make you a happier, healthier employee. And if you get pushback for wanting to leave at the end of your workday, you might want to ask whether this office’s culture is a fit for you. The 9–5 is not dead everywhere. And it’s most important for you to strike the balance that makes for the best version of you!