Not everyone who keeps working after the workday ends is ambitious. Some people simply discovered that the transition from productivity to stillness requires passing through a stretch of feeling they've been avoiding for years, and the extra hour of work is cheaper than the ten minutes of silence. - Silicon Canals

"Most people who work late believe they're being productive. They tell themselves a story about ambition, about getting ahead, about dedication to craft. But a significant number of people sending emails at 9pm have stumbled onto something quieter and harder to name: work is the last reliable place where they don't have to feel anything they haven't scheduled."

"The gap between feeling one should stop working and feeling unable to stop is often filled with something that has nothing to do with the work itself."

"There's a specific window that gets people. It usually hits somewhere between closing the laptop and whatever comes next: dinner, TV, a conversation with a partner, the shower. Call it the transition gap. It lasts maybe five to fifteen minutes, and for some people it contains more emotional freight than the entire preceding workday."

People often believe working late is a sign of ambition and dedication, but many are actually avoiding uncomfortable feelings. The issue isn't just about time management or boundaries; it's about the fear of stopping. A specific emotional gap occurs after work, filled with unresolved feelings like grief and loneliness. This transition gap makes it difficult for individuals to disengage from work, leading them to continue working to avoid facing these emotions.

Read at Silicon Canals