What is a soft off day? Viral work trend promises mental break without taking leave

Many offices have introduced a new trend. A soft-off day is one such trend; a day when an employee can disconnect mentally from work but not actually be on vacation. This trend started to gain popularity after an influencer shared some of the different ways to combat work pressure on low-energy days, while also being available for other people and completing your own tasks as well.

What is a soft off day and how does it help in an employee’s mental well-being?

A soft off day doesn't mean that you will miss a day at work, or formally request a day off. Instead, employees show up to work or log in to their workspace. However, only put forth a minimal amount of effort toward tasks for the day. This allows the employee to do as little as possible to conserve mental energy on days when it is especially challenging to be productive due to mental fatigue and/or burnout.

The first rule is to start your day later. You should log in to work/ arrive later than you typically would, to relieve stress and create a slower-paced environment. To reinforce the "busy" impression, you should send out emails early in the day. So that there is less likelihood of receiving follow-ups or having to answer questions later in the day.

Automation is a critical part of having a soft-off day at work. To assist with this, the influencer suggested recording the meeting (or taking notes) with transcription or note-taking tools during the meeting. These tools will allow you to record the conversations even if you are not actively paying attention.

Another vital part of boundaries is boundary setting. Employees should say no to added responsibilities, refrain from working late, and refuse to take on additional work. The influencer contends that it is important to protect both time and energy to create an effective off day.

Tweaking your work hours is also a good thing. Employees who work from home may be able to log in continuously, use their computer mouse from time-to-time, and make themselves look busy to avoid sullying their reputation.

The trend for taking soft days off reflects the abundance of conversations on the topic of extensive working hours and the stress that can result from that lifestyle. The new trend shows how employees have found ways to deal with long hours, while continuing to participate in existing social structures.

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