Remote work has given many of us the gift of flexibility, allowing many people to define their professional lives on their own terms. However, this freedom has the challenge of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Working from home is often important to blur the boundaries between work and personal life, and establish clear practices that allow for proper self-care and downtime. If you don’t manage your workload and maintain a work-life balance for a long period of time, this can lead to burnout, anxiety, and even health issues.
Fortunately, there are several practical ways to balance work and prioritize mental health as a remote worker. Below are eight tips for balancing work and life when working remotely.
1. Get your daily routine
Working from home is still working and requires daily routines to stay organized and productive. Start by setting normal working hours, including meals and exercise breaks. Wake up at the same time every day and follow the morning rituals can help signal the beginning of your work day. Even if you’re not leaving home and going to work, you need to prepare as if you’re sitting on your computer and setting a clear time to start work for the day.
It is equally important to clearly complete work duties so that you can move on to personal time. Flexibility is key to the appeal of remote work, but we aim to maintain a consistent schedule, while allowing changes when needed.
- For example, your daily schedule might look something like this:
- 7am – Wake up, stretch, read, and/or meditate easily
- 7:30-8:15 AM – Go for a run/walk or training
- 8:15-9:00 am – Shower, dressed for the day, lightly tidy around the house while listening to audiobooks
- 9:00-9:30 AM – Prepare and eat breakfast
- 9:45 AM-12:00 PM – Work
- 12:00-12:45 PM – Lunch break
- 12:45-4:00 PM – Continue the second work session
- 4:00-4:30 PM – I’ll start rolling up for the day and getting the job done
2. Create a dedicated workspace
Your workspace shapes your way of thinking. Dedicated specific areas of your home to work can strengthen your focus and create boundaries between your professional and personal life. Choose a location with natural light, away from the busy area of ​​your home. Organize it and avoid distraction. When you are in that space, you are at work – and when you leave, you fall off the clock.
Working from a kitchen table, sofa or bed is attractive. This setup may seem cosy, but it also blurs the line between work and leisure. Instead, try investing in a small desk and a basic workplace setup. This does not need to be in an enclosed office room, but you can quit your job in a specific area of ​​your home at the end of each day.
3. Time blocking schedule
Effective time management is the key to productive remote work days and the key to balancing work and life. Consider using block scheduling. This is a technique for assigning a mass of time to a particular task. This method allows for deep work without interruption and ensures you are present in all aspects of your role.
Prioritize tasks based on urgency and impact, and work on priority items during peak focus hours. An effective time management strategy allows you to plan ahead your days and batch specific tasks together.
This can also be done about some of your personal activities. A common complaint for people who work long hours is that they don’t have much free time to keep up with other responsibilities such as relaxation and cooking and errands. You can batch schedule errands every week and combine them up to a day. Another option is to plan your meals in advance and prepare dinner in batches (larger portions). That way you will have leftovers and you won’t have to cook every night.
4. Create after work
Another way to start balancing work and life when you work remotely is to make a post-work plan. Your plans don’t have to be luxury, but it may help you plan a date night with your partner or plan an outing with your friends this week.
Leisure activities at home are also a good idea. For example, you could also plan to read a good book in the evening or spend time on hobbies. Or you might want to plan a trip to the local farmers market on a Saturday morning or weekend camping trip. If you don’t plan your personal time, it’s very easy to fill your daily schedule with additional tasks.
5. Take a break and a vacation
It’s attractive to get your power through working hours without stopping, but this can lead to burnout and reduced productivity. Regular breaks, including short walks and stretches, can refresh your mind and body.
- Use the Pomodoro technique or similar methods to schedule intermittent rest periods. As a reminder, here is how it works:
- Identify the tasks that need to be completed.
- Set the timer for 25 minutes.
- Work on tasks without distraction.
- When the alarm goes off, take a 5-minute break.
- Repeat the process three more times.
- Take a 30 minute break and start the process again.
- Long breaks for lunch and exercise are also essential to maintaining energy levels and mental clarity. You can also spend a few minutes in the morning or evening on the journal to decompress and prioritize self-care.
When you are taking time off from work, W2 employees should always use paid leave and sick days. If you are a freelance and self-employed, you should plan ahead for your holidays and holidays. Save a small portion of your income each month to function as a PTO fund. Even if you’re not actually going on vacation, mental health days and holidays work intentionally on the calendar throughout the year.
Working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, will not benefit your professional life in the long term and will only contribute to long-term fatigue. Life is short so do it intentionally by enjoying your schedule and vacation.
6. Maintain healthy relationships outside of work
Remote work can be quarantined, especially if you live alone. Effort to maintain social connections through virtual coffee dates with colleagues and in-person meetups with local friends.
Join professional communities and local groups to foster supportive relationships and engage in meaningful conversations that break down work-centered thinking. You can also join remote worker social media groups and create your own slack channels. You may be surprised to find others who work remotely and are interested in meeting regularly.
7. Ask for help
Despite our best efforts, balancing your work and life when you work remotely can sometimes be challenging. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help when you need it. This means delegating tasks from your to-do list or seeking support from friends and family. You may need to set up childcare several days a week to allow you to work without any distractions.
Additionally, if your employer provides resources to manage work-life balance, take advantage of them. Remember that seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength and self-awareness. By acknowledging support when needed, maintaining a healthy balance over the long term, you can prevent burnout and potential health issues. So don’t be afraid to speak up and ask for help if necessary, as it can improve your home life.
8. Regularly assess and adjust work-life balance
Your needs and situations evolve, so it’s essential to regularly assess whether your routine is still working well for you. Be prepared to adapt and make changes if necessary. Listen to your body and mind – if you feel overwhelmed or tired, it may be time to reevaluate your workload or the strategies you are using to manage it.
Balance work and life rap tap
Remote work offers the freedom to define schedules and environments, but with this, you have the responsibility to successfully manage work-life integration. Remember that achieving a healthy work-life balance is an ongoing process that requires constant attention and effort.
By following these tips, you can experience the positive effects of creating clear boundaries and routines that promote productivity, happiness and fulfillment in both your professional and personal life.