🎶 “Workin’ 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin’…”
Oh, how times have changed.
If Dolly Parton wrote that song today, it might be called “Logging on at 7, still Slacking at 11.” The once-structured 9-to-5 has quietly morphed into something fuzzier — a workday with no real start, no clear finish, and no off switch.
Microsoft calls it the “infinite workday.” And if you’ve ever checked email at bedtime or answered a ping mid-dinner, you’ve lived it.
It all started during the pandemic, when remote work blurred the lines between home and office. At first, the flexibility felt freeing. But over time, something sneaky happened: we never really clocked out. Meetings started creeping past dinner. Emails trickled in on weekends. And somehow, “just one quick thing” turned into working around the clock.
Now, for many knowledge workers, there’s no clear beginning or end to the workday. Just a never-ending loop of messages, meetings, and mental load.
So, what does this always-on culture mean for our wellbeing, focus, and ability to recharge? And more importantly. How do we take back control of our time without falling behind?
Let’s explore how to break free from the burnout cycle, set better boundaries, and reimagine what a healthy workday really looks like.