My manager knows I see the messages because WhatsApp shows blue ticks, so now I’m scared to even open my phone at night. It’s affecting my sleep and I feel like I can never fully switch off.
Disable read receipts on WhatsApp immediately — go to Settings, Account, Privacy, turn off Read Receipts. This removes the social pressure completely and buys you breathing room. Next, have a one-time conversation with your boss framing it around productivity, not boundaries — bosses respond better to that angle. Say something like: ‘I’ve noticed I do my best work when I can fully recharge at night, so unless it’s urgent I’ll respond to evening messages first thing in the morning.’ Then actually do it — reply at 8am to the 11pm message, consistently. Most bosses adjust once they realize the delay is reliable and you’re not ignoring them. If urgent genuinely means urgent, ask them to call for real emergencies instead of texting.
Write your answer.