When the Clock Stops, So Should You (Yes, Even If Your Inbox Is Whispering Your Name)

We live in a world where “just five more minutes” at work somehow turns into finishing a whole extra project, answering “urgent” emails at 10 p.m., and convincing ourselves that tomorrow will be the day we rest. But here’s the truth: if you never actually stop, you never actually rest. And rest is not a luxury—it’s fuel.

God didn’t design us to be on call for the office 24/7. Even He modeled boundaries: six days of creation, one day of rest. Not “half a day while still checking Slack.” Boundaries aren’t just for toddlers—they’re for tired grown-ups who need space to be human.

Yes, emergencies happen. Yes, deadlines sneak up. But those should be the exception, not the norm. Make a habit of shutting down your work brain when the clock says so, and redirect that time toward your family, your health, your faith, and your joy.

Your worth isn’t in your output. It’s in being the person God made you to be—and that person needs both purpose and pause. So when the clock stops today, close the laptop. Go live your actual life. Work will still be there tomorrow.