Forget app overload—hybrid work was supposed to free you, but by 2025, it’s a boundary blender. I’m Mark Struczewski, your Mister Productivity guide, living this hybrid life with Uber mornings and Mister Productivity afternoons. Let’s fix it with boundaries that stick.
Why Hybrid Work Struggles in 2025
Hybrid work—part office, part home—felt like a dream in 2020-2022, but 2025 exposes the chaos. Tools like Slack and Zoom tether us 24/7, blurring lines. My inbox explodes with “quick check-ins” mid-task—sound familiar? It’s not the workload; it’s the lack of boundaries. A study shows 68% of hybrid workers feel overextended, never clocking out. Post-2005 firing, I ground solo with no off switch—relatable, right?
Three Rules to Strengthen Boundaries
- Schedule by Energy, Not Hours: Know your peak. I’m a morning person, loving 4:30-5:00 AM starts, but I drive Uber 5:30-10 AM to provide for my family. So, I work on Mister Productivity afternoons. Find your prime—morning, late morning, afternoon, or night. Don’t do critical tasks when tired. If kids or life shift your schedule, adapt monthly.
- Set Tech Guardrails: Always on your phone? I grew up pre-cell phones—set limits. Can you watch a movie without scrolling? Try iMessage’s scheduled delivery for non-urgent texts, like delaying a 7:30 PM message to morning. Start with one rule—no tech at dinner with soft music instead. Build to more as you relax without constant connectivity.
- Create a Shutdown Ritual: Don’t go, go, go and then try to go to sleep. I stop eating at 6 PM, watch mindless TV to disconnect, go screens off by 8 PM, journal prayers in my Moleskine, read on Kindle in dark mode, and am asleep by 8:30 PM. Kids need this too—buffer screen time. It beats tossing and turning from no shutdown.
Take Action
Audit these: Do you schedule by energy? Have tech guardrails? A shutdown ritual? Pick one—don’t rush all three. Share your start on Instagram, X or LinkedIn. A happier 2025-2026 awaits!
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