Hajra Naz
Canva co-founder Melanie Perkins protects her work life balance with one rule, no email and no Slack on her phone, so closing the laptop actually ends the workday. The habit works because it removes the trigger rather than relying on willpower. For freelancers and founders, the same boundary is often the difference between steady output and burnout.
Canva CEO Melanie Perkins says she’s built “healthy habits”—and one of them is simple: no Slack or email on her phone.
“When I shut my laptop, I actually tune out,” Perkins said on Lenny’s Podcast, emphasizing the importance of digital boundaries and mental health in leadership.
How Melanie Perkins Disconnects to Reconnect
In today’s world of nonstop Slack messages and Teams pings, switching off from work can feel impossible. But Perkins believes it’s essential for long-term productivity and focus.
“I don’t have email or Slack on my phone,” she said. “When I shut my laptop, I actually tune out.”
She’s not totally offline, though. “If there’s a real issue, I’ll get an emergency call or page,” she added.
Read More: Here is how to find a better work-life balance
Why Balance Matters to the Canva CEO
Perkins co-founded Canva in 2012 with Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams. Over more than a decade, she’s learned that success isn’t about working nonstop—it’s about working smart.
“I’ve developed some healthy habits over the years,” Perkins explained. “When I’m working, I’m all in. When I’m not, I’m all out.”
That separation helps her stay creative and focused. “Actually giving that mental space, I think, is really important,” she said.
Other CEOs Are Setting Digital Boundaries Too
Perkins isn’t the only tech leader pushing back against digital burnout.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov limits his phone use, calling smartphones “a distraction that prevents people from forming their own ideas.” He admits it’s ironic—considering he founded two of the world’s biggest social platforms.
Glassdoor CEO Christian Sutherland-Wong avoids using his phone in front of his kids. “I want to lead by not having digital products all around,” he said in 2024.
Hinge CEO Justin McLeod takes a similar approach. He doesn’t have email on his phone, saying it makes him “a much better decision-maker” and “a much better leader.”
Even outside tech, actor Aziz Ansari still uses a flip phone—no apps, no email.
Read More: Want to attain work-life balance?. Follow these 6 strategies
The Flip Side: The 996 Work Culture
Not every founder believes in slowing down. Some still follow the intense 996 work schedule—working 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week—a trend especially common in Asia’s startup world.
Perkins thinks this mindset can be dangerous. “I’ve spoken to a lot of founders who haven’t found balance and struggle with it,” she said. “You can end up working harder and harder — but on the wrong thing.”
Her message is clear: hustle culture doesn’t always equal success. Sometimes, the best productivity hack is simply logging off.
AQs
1. Why doesn’t Canva CEO Melanie Perkins use email or Slack on her phone?
She avoids these apps to maintain healthy digital boundaries and fully disconnect from work during her downtime.
2. Does Melanie Perkins still stay connected in case of emergencies?
Yes. She said she can be reached through emergency calls or pages if something urgent happens.
3. Which other CEOs follow similar digital detox habits?
Leaders from Telegram, Glassdoor, and Hinge have also set strict phone or email limits to improve focus and mental well-being.
4. What is the 996 work schedule mentioned by Perkins?
It’s a work culture where employees work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week—often criticized for causing burnout.
5. What message does Perkins send to other founders?
She encourages balance over burnout — reminding leaders that constant work doesn’t guarantee success or clarity.
Why does keeping work apps off your phone help?
Notifications are the main reason work leaks into evenings and weekends. Removing the apps takes away the trigger entirely, which is far easier than resisting a badge every few minutes. Freelancers feel this most, because client chat never really closes, and the ones who last longest usually set hard hours early, a pattern also seen among high earning freelancers who protect their focus time.
Can freelancers really switch off when clients are in other time zones?
Yes, with expectations set in writing. Agree response windows in the contract, publish your working hours on your profile, and use scheduled replies. Clients respect clear boundaries far more than constant availability.
What is a realistic first step?
Pick one app, usually email, and delete it from your phone for two weeks. Keep the laptop as the only place work happens, then review how much you actually missed.
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Last updated: August 2026.
