10 things you can do to keep your IT job from taking over your life

IT pros don't hold a monopoly on working excessively long hours or having job responsibilities cast a shadow over their personal lives. But for many reasons, it's a field that invites long hours, persistent worries, and a reluctance -- or inability -- to mentally clock out when the workday should be over.

For those trying to rein in their runaway professional lives, it doesn't help that "You won't be able to reach me" has lost its power. Cell phones, PDAs, pagers, and remote access tools have all but eliminated the refuge of inaccessibility. They might make your job easier, but they also make your job omnipresent.

If you've been wishing you could scale back your work obligations to make a little more room for your personal life, here are a few ways to help keep the workplace at bay.

This download is also available as an entry in our 10 Things blog.