My brother-in-law told me to stop taking calls after 6 PM | Freelance Survival

Laura Allen · 2026-03-16T12:35:09.345983+00:00

He said it would make clients respect my time more, and after trying it for a month, my project stress dropped by half. Anyone else set strict work hours and have it actually work?

harper_white7mo ago

My old boss tried the 6 PM rule but it backfired. Clients just started calling at 5:55 with urgent requests. The real fix for me was setting a clear cutoff two hours before I actually logged off. I tell everyone my last call slot is at 4 PM, so they have to plan ahead. That buffer stops the end of day panic. It’s not about the exact time, it’s about building in space so work doesn’t bleed into your night.

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the_mary7mo ago

Can confirm, it's a game changer.

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hugomurray7mo ago

Oh man, that's the best advice. I started putting my work phone in a drawer at 7 PM sharp. The first few nights it buzzed, but I ignored it. People figured out real fast they wouldn't get an answer until morning. Now they plan better and send questions earlier. My evenings are actually mine again.

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