Being reachable 24/7 was never the goal. But somewhere along the way, availability became a badge of honor.

The problem? Constant availability leads to quiet depletion. You’re always “on,” but never fully present. Always responding, but rarely restored.

Burnout is just the surface. What runs deeper is erosion of focus, of boundaries, of self…

Here’s what it looks like:

• A manager checks a notification from the office during dinner, then wonders why they feel disconnected from their family.
• A team member answers emails at midnight – not because it’s urgent, but because they don’t want to seem uncommitted.
• A founder skips lunch for the third day in a row because “there’s just too much going on.”

This isn’t sustainable. It depletes energy, distorts priorities, and delays recovery.

Here are some ways to safeguard your focus:

• Define your “off-grid” windows.
  Example: No notifications after 7 p.m. and no guilt about it.
  
• Use boundary language with warmth.
  Example: “I’m offline this evening, but I’ll circle back in the morning.”
  
• Audit the platforms that drain you.
  Example: Set your work phone aside or leave the group chat.
  
• Set expectations before they’re broken.
  Example: Add your response hours to your email signature.

Effectiveness doesn’t require constant access. Be present where it matters most. In a world that never stops pinging, what you protect becomes what endures.