While working from home has its perks, it can also be hard to keep work life and personal life separated. If left unchecked, this can cause burnout and even affect your performance in the workplace.
Creating a healthy work-life balance is something that requires time and effort. Here are some practical ways you can do it:
Create a Space for Your Work
It can be easy for work and home life to mix when working from home. However, creating a workspace that is separate from the rest of your house can help keep the two parts of your life distinct. Choosing a space that is free from distractions, is quiet, and well-lit can improve your productivity and make it easier to concentrate. For instance, you should avoid working in your bedroom or living room if possible, as these spaces are meant for rest and relaxation.
It’s also important to set up a dedicated workspace that isn’t overcrowded or cluttered. This can help you feel more focused and productive, and it can also reduce stress levels. You may also want to consider adding a motivational wall or other types of visual reminders in your workspace to help you stay on task.
You should try to create a workspace that meets your specific work style and needs, so don’t be afraid to make changes as necessary. For example, if you find that you don’t work as well in natural light, you might want to consider adding a desk lamp or a window shade. Also, if you and a spouse both work from home and share the same space, you might want to consider using a room divider or creating a corner that allows for two different working areas.
In addition, it’s a good idea to have a support system in place for when you feel overwhelmed. This can include friends, family members, or even a professional therapist. A good support network can help you manage work-related and personal stressors, allowing you to better balance your work and home life.
Maintaining a work-life balance can be difficult for those who work from home, but it is still possible to achieve a healthy, happy, and fulfilling lifestyle. By setting clear boundaries, creating a dedicated work area, and taking breaks, you can ensure that your career and personal life are both thriving.
Set a Schedule
Having a separate home office space helps keep work from taking over your entire home and allows you to truly clock out at the end of the day. It’s also a great way to set boundaries with those who live with you, as it lets them know that your room is your workspace and they can respect your privacy and quiet time. If you don’t have a dedicated room, consider using a soundproof headset or closing the door to help minimize distractions and focus on your work.
Keeping regular hours is another important aspect of maintaining a work-life balance while working from home. It’s easy to lose track of time and end up working late into the night if you don’t stick to a schedule and force yourself to stop at a set time every day. Having a set time to stop work and get ready for the day or bed can also make it easier to fall asleep at a decent hour each night.
As a manager, it’s crucial to have a tool in place that helps you create and manage your employee’s schedules. Instead of relying on spreadsheets or email, use an online, digital scheduling solution that makes it easy to communicate shift changes and monitor availability. This can help ensure that the right people are working at the right times and eliminates confusion and misunderstandings.
If you have coworkers who work from home, consider setting up video chats with them at the beginning and end of each day to chat about their weekend activities or catch up on family news. It’s a great way to have a personal connection throughout the day and can make it easier to disconnect from your work when you’re done for the day.
You can also set your communication channels to indicate that you’re off the clock at a certain time so that you don’t get bombarded with emails at ungodly hours. This is especially helpful if your colleagues often work from home, as it reminds them that you’re not available for work outside of your designated hours.
Create Boundaries
Many people who work from home struggle with blurred boundaries. This makes sense because the commute that used to demarcate work from home has been replaced by the walk between a makeshift office and the kitchen or living room, where the computer is always within reach. And without the usual office closures at the end of the day, it’s easy to default to checking email (and maybe doing just one more thing) well past when you should be winding down. Also, make sure to have baby-safe cleaning supplies at-the-ready if you’re expecting a baby or already have one.
If you want to be productive when working from home, you have to put in the extra effort to create and enforce boundaries that aren’t as easily set by physical separation. For example, you might have to discipline yourself to minimize interruptions from family members or pets who think the office is their own personal play space. Or you might have to establish that when a client calls you on a videoconference, you’re not there to discuss the family pet’s health or vacation plans.
The good news is, there are lots of ways to create these virtual boundaries. As a start, consider creating a separate workspace that’s only for work. Whether that means dedicating a spare room or simply repurposing an existing space, find a dedicated area that’s free of distractions and shut the door when you work. You can even turn off or silence your phone and other devices so you’re not interrupted. For extra protection, use a timer to remind you to stop working when the designated time ends.
Setting and maintaining these boundaries is not just important for your productivity, but also for your mental and physical health. Studies have shown that those who can better balance their work and home lives tend to enjoy better physical and emotional health. If you don’t feel like you have enough energy to get through your day, it can lead to anxiety and depression.
However, trying to achieve the perfect work-life balance can be stressful, especially if you’re struggling with blurred boundaries. Instead of pushing for the ideal, focus on building healthy habits and communicating them to others in your life.
Don’t Overdo It
Working from home is a great way to avoid long commutes, but it’s easy to let work creep into your personal life. This can lead to feeling like you never get a break and leads to overworking, which can have serious health implications. Overworking can also lead to a loss of focus and productivity, which is why it’s important to find a balance between work and life.
While it’s true that finding a work-life balance takes time and effort, there are many things you can do to help achieve this goal. One of the most important is to set a specific space for work and to make this space distinct from other areas of your home. This will help you to separate your work from your personal life and can also allow you to stop thinking about your work once you walk out of your home office.
It’s also important to establish a clear schedule and stick to it, especially when you’re working from home. It may be harder to keep to a set routine without the distractions of an office, but it’s essential for your mental health and to ensure that you can accomplish all of your work on time. Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask for help when needed from your family or friends. This can help to reduce stress and improve the overall quality of your work.
Another way to find a balance is to try to do fun things with your family while still completing chores and tasks. This can be as simple as blasting a playlist and dancing around with the family while you complete household chores or even scheduling your errands during nap times to minimize stress for everyone involved.
In addition, don’t forget to take a regular break from your work and have some downtime for yourself. This will help you stay focused and can also be a great way to recharge and relax. It’s also important to prioritize your tasks and be able to distinguish between urgent and non-urgent items on your to-do list.
Finally, don’t forget to turn off your work phone and turn off work notifications when you’re not working. It’s also a good idea to only check emails during your designated work hours, so that you can enjoy the rest of your time off with your family and friends.