Do Boundaries Clock Off? What Really Happens on Leave

If you're still contactable, are you actually on leave? A watched moment on a family holiday — one work email, and the mood shifted for everyone.

This episode looks at why accessibility during leave costs more than we think, and what to actually put in place before you go.

THE SIGNAL
 📧 One out-of-hours email, and the holiday brain switches off 
🧠 Allostatic load: your body doesn't always know "quick" from "urgent" 
🔬 Sinsky et al, JAMA Network Open 2024: inbox coverage predicts real detachment 
🏥 Stanford Medicine wellbeing data: 100% found an Out of Office best-practice doc helpful; 77% found a "life outside work" grand rounds moment helpful

THE RESET 
✅ Name one delegate before you leave, not as you're walking out the door ✅ Update your out-of-office with their contact, not just "I'll reply when I'm back" 
✅ Separate work email/phone — a physical barrier beats willpower 
✅ Bring the culture piece to your team, not just yourself

Hope is not a boundary. A named delegate is.

🔗 Get the words for the moment: No Is a Full Sentence, at drjobraid.com/store

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This episode is supported by MIGA. www.miga.com.au

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