Permission to Log Off—Fully

Why Your Weekend Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a Leadership Move

Kamy Charles

5/17/20251 min read

a laptop computer sitting on a table with a lamp on it
a laptop computer sitting on a table with a lamp on it
You Don’t Need to Be Online to Be Valuable
Let’s rewrite the narrative:

You’re not more committed because you answer emails at midnight.

You’re not more professional because your Teams status is always green.

You’re simply more burned out.

The truth is—logging off is a leadership decision.

Because when you protect your mind, you protect your momentum.

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Why You Struggle to Log Off (and What to Do About It)

1. The Guilt Loop

We’ve been conditioned to believe that rest must be earned.

But your nervous system doesn’t care about KPIs. It cares about recovery.

2. The Fear of Missing Out

Spoiler: If something’s urgent, they’ll call. And if it isn’t—let it wait.

3. The Pressure to Perform

Logging off doesn’t mean dropping the ball. It means placing the ball down gently so you can pick it up stronger Monday.

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3 Ways to Log Off Fully—Not Just Physically

1. Create a Ritual

Shut down your workspace the way you power up:

Light a candle

Play a sign-off playlist

Write Monday’s first three tasks on a sticky note

2. Communicate Boundaries Clearly

Set expectations: “I’ll be offline this weekend and will respond Monday morning.” Simple. Respectful. Effective.

3. Replace Screen Time With Real Time

Plan something analog—read, walk, cook, nap, laugh. You’re allowed to be human, not just productive.

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Final Thought: Rest Is the New ROI

Your ideas will be sharper.

Your presence will be stronger.

Your clarity will be cleaner.

But only if you unplug long enough to let your brain breathe.

Give yourself permission to log off. Fully.

No apologies. Just alignment.