How to Unclutter your Mind by Avoiding Work-related Stress

How to Unclutter your Mind by Avoiding Work-related Stress.

Work-related stress is that overwhelming feeling that prevents you from enjoying your peace time.

It may run counter with minimalism but I advice professionals to have two mobile phones with them, one is for work and one is for personal use unrelated to work. I used to have this fear of using my phone because I do not want to answer my clients outside of my work hours. I put away my phone when not at work and stopped using useful apps such as Headspace, Elevate, and Fabulous. I was not able to enjoy watching YT videos because I formed a habit of waiting for notifications from my clients, courts, and work-related messages. You may feel the same way in the future and might forget how to just relax and enjoy the things that you love without feeling any work-related stress. I have been thinking for weeks now whether to get a new phone or not. Mobile phones are big purchases and I am not sure if it just a luxury or not. I decided to buy a new phone and I felt freer after a few days of using it. I learned to separate work and personal errands. I downloaded all the apps that I used to love and made a rule that this personal phone shall never be used for work transactions.

Tips in Using Two Mobile Phones to Declutter your Mind and Avoid Work-related Stress

1. Set a rule that one is strictly for business/work and the other is solely for personal use.

2. Do not use your professional email in your personal phone. Do not check your work-related email using your personal phone. At the same time, do not use your personal email in your business phone.

3. The business phone should not be used for things unrelated to work such as games, leisure reading, and photos unrelated to work.

4. Use your business phone during work hours and put it away when not in use. Check emails/ communications only during work hours. Your working hours depend on your preference, just make sure that you set enough time for you and your family.

5. Clients, whether you like it or not, will try to reach out to you at any time they wish. Sometimes they even call at 2am and expect you to answer them specially when they are residing overseas. It is important to let the clients know that you cannot answer them at a time not convenient to you. Keep your business phone away from you during your sleeping hours. You may also arrange a time where they can call you at around 2am. I have clients overseas so I usually arrange a time around 9pm to 10pm for them to call me. If you are used to having a phone close by while sleeping, keep your personal phone close but not your business phone.

Take away: Separate your work and personal life by using two mobile phones. One strictly for work and one strictly for personal use.

This advice is not applicable to all professionals and businesses. On-call professionals may need to have their phones with them 24/7. You may, however, still get another phone that you will use for personal transactions. You can keep both phones with you so that there is still a clear distinction between work and your personal life.