Why It’s Okay to Leave Work at Work: Tips for Unplugging

Our recent yoga event has had us reminiscing on how important unplugging and leaving work at work is. You could say the NGIN committee has found their zen, and we’re sure that if you work in the insurance industry, you probably know the struggle of leaving work at work. Between emails, client concerns, and that one colleague who insists on sending messages at 10 PM, it can feel impossible to truly clock out.

But guess what? It is okay to unplug! In fact, it’s necessary. Here’s why setting boundaries and enjoying your time off isn’t just a luxury—it’s a professional survival skill.

Boundaries: Because You Deserve a Life

Let’s be real: insurance can be demanding. There’s always another policy to review, another claim to process, and another client who has "just one quick question" (that somehow turns into a 30-minute call). But just because the work exists doesn’t mean you need to be available 24/7.

Setting boundaries doesn’t make you a bad employee; it makes you a sane one. When you unplug at the end of the day, you come back sharper, more focused, and less likely to throw your laptop out the window when someone asks you to "circle back."

Your Time Off Should Be Just That—OFF

Imagine this: It’s Saturday, you’re sipping your morning tea, and just as you take that first glorious sip… ding! An email from work. Suddenly, you’re mentally drafting a response instead of enjoying your weekend.

Here’s the truth: If you’re constantly "on," you’re never truly off. And that leads to burnout faster than you can say "policy exclusions." Your personal time is for you—whether that means binge-watching the latest Netflix series, trying (and failing) to bake sourdough, going out with your friends, or finally going on that countryside walk you keep talking about.

Tips for Actually Unplugging

1. Turn Off Notifications – Your email will survive without you for a few hours. That Teams message? It can wait. Give yourself permission to be unreachable. Don’t install work apps on your personal device!

2. Set Expectations – Let clients and colleagues know your working hours and establish boundaries. If they email you at 9 PM, they can wait until morning. (And if it’s truly an emergency, they should probably be calling 999, not you.)

3. Create a Sign-Off Ritual – Whether it’s shutting your laptop, going for a walk, or loudly declaring "I AM DONE!" to your empty flat, find a way to mentally close out the workday.

4. Have a Hobby That Distracts You – The more engaging, the better. Maybe it’s painting, kickboxing, or extreme napping (a personal favourite). Anything that pulls you away from your work brain.

5. Use Your Annual Leave – You earned it. Take it. The office will not collapse without you. Spread this out throughout the year to make sure you have regular opportunities to switch-off.

   
   

Final Thoughts: Work to Live, Don’t Live to Work

At the end of the day, insurance is important, but so is your well-being. Your job is just one part of your life—it shouldn’t be your entire life. So set those boundaries, protect your time, and for the love of all things good, mute your work notifications after hours. You deserve it.