It’s the weekend—so why are you still working? Here’s how to get your life back without the guilt

‘Im on standby if you need me’

You find yourself saying these words to your boss on Friday evening. You don’t even know why you promised to sacrifice your weekend. Maybe it’s habit. Maybe it’s fear. Sometimes, even when no one asks, you’re still there—replying to emails, fixing things, staying available. Somewhere, deep down, you worry: If you’re not always 'on,' something might go wrong. Or worse, you might seem replaceable.

And so, you like the rest of us, are plugged into work somehow on the weekends, unable to draw a boundary and disconnect.

Why you can't set boundaries at work

The truth is, work will never end. But your time, your energy, your weekend, absolutely will. From our conversations with psychologists and wellness coaches, one thing is clear: being 'always available' isn’t a flex—it’s a fast track to burnout. It is easy to fall prey to idea of celebrating workaholics as a desirable trait and working long hours as a sign of dedication.

 Most people get their sense of worth from who they believe they are, usually based on their experiences at work, home, and list of accomplishments. This can result in a loss of true non-judgmental self-identity. Finally, you need understand that your sense of worth stems from you, not from others or from your job.

When we have a low self-esteem, we constantly crave approval from others, feeding a sense of self and fostering people-pleasing behaviours. And, as unfortunate consequence, they will find it difficult to establish healthy boundaries.

Here’s how you can set boundaries at work

• Identify your own boundaries first: Take some time to understand what your own boundaries are, what you are willing and not willing to do.

• Communicate clearly: Let your managers know that you will not be responsive on your weekends and after work-hours, unless urgently required to do so.

• Be polite, but assertive, otherwise people won’t know that they’ve overstepped.

• Learn to say ‘no’.

• Learn to switch off: Learn to log out from your work emails after work hours. Logging off from communication platforms, emails, and phone calls after office hours and during weekends or vacations, is essential, so you are not bothered by work notifications and can relax and recharge. Being overworked isn’t a badge of honour.

• Remind yourself to be calm. Setting boundaries can lead to disagreements and there will always be pushback.

• If you still feel that your boundaries are not being respected, reach out to your manager or Human Resources.