Remote Work Tips for Work-Life Balance
As someone who has worked remotely for years, I know just how hard it is to find the right balance. Work-life balance has been particularly difficult for me, especially during the current pandemic. That’s why I was so excited to read this guest post from Catherine all around finding the right structure for you.
When working from home, whether you’re freelancing or working for a traditional company, it’s easy to feel like you never “escape” your work. This is because you literally work and live in the same space. Luckily, there are some things you can do to make this process a bit easier.
The shift to remote working has continually been gaining momentum probably because of the benefits that it offers. However, let’s face it, attaining a better work-life balance has been a struggle for many.
Setting boundaries between work and life duties when everything is happening in a single location is a challenge. Nevertheless, we can’t deny that having a healthy balance between the two is important for improved productivity, job satisfaction as well as mental and physical wellbeing.
Here are 4 tips to help you reach a better work-life balance when working remotely. No matter your experience level, you can create the ideal work-life space for you.
1. Have a Dedicated Home Office
When you work from home, it’s a good idea to replicate the work conditions of a traditional office that you like. Most office spaces are a lot different from home. For example, there isn’t laundry and the dishes reminding you that they need cleaning at a typical office. Not to mention the sofa and the TV calling you to cozy up and enjoy your favorite shows.
If you are to get any work done, you need to dedicate a space specifically for work duties does the trick.
First, choose a space with the least distractions. If you can have a separate room with a door, that’s even better. Otherwise, the least frequented corner in the living room or kitchen can do. Just ensure that you set up a good table and chair for your work. You should also ensure that the area has good lighting and everything you need to stay focused on your work.
2. Set a Schedule and Follow It
Without the confinement of the 9 to 5 traditional working hours, you have the freedom to choose your schedule. However, it can get tricky when working from home. You might find that life duties are taking longer hours, leaving you with limited time for work or vice versa. If you are to find a healthy balance between the two, it is important that you set a routine for you to follow.
Create a work routine with a clear start and end time. Make sure that you stick to it. Most importantly, ensure that you finish your daily work duties within the set time.
Perhaps to make your work easier and quicker, you can think of ways to work smarter. For instance, when sharing documents with your coworkers, you share files in a compressed format. This turns files into a smaller size that makes sending them faster.
If you have no idea how to unzip files, the process is easy with the right application such as WinZip. In addition, something else you need to do with these files is to convert to PDF to keep the document’s formatting the same This is one example that could really save you time.
3. Log Off at the End of Each Day
Most people struggle with signing off from work at the end of the day when working from home. Even when they are done with the day’s tasks, they still take longer at the desk doing other things. After all, there is not that long commute as it is when working in a traditional office. Remember this is time that you should be using for your tasks, thus, staying at the desk longer only hurts the other side of life.
You must log off from work when your scheduled time is over. To help you do this with ease, make plans for after-work hours. You can sign up for a gym, plan to visit a friend, or go out for a happy hour. Having something that you are looking forward to will help you to stop working when the time is up.
4. Take Regular Breaks
Lastly, working from the same place all day long can be monotonous, boring, and energy draining. It becomes easy to wander off from your tasks, derailing your productivity and delaying your set deadlines. This not only hurts your work but your personal life as well. If you want a strong work-life balance, you need regular breaks.
What should you do during each break? Use the opportunity to take a walk around the block, walk your dog, run an errand or do something that makes you happy. You will notice that you are reenergized to tackle more tasks after a refreshing break.
Final Thoughts on Work-Life Balance
One of the benefits of working remotely is that you have full freedom over your time. However, this can turn against your productivity and personal life if you are not careful. Follow the above tips to ensure that you have a balance between work and your personal life so each stay strong.
Catherine Cortez is an architect, interior designer, and a writer for design websites. She is young and ambitious, with a degree in architecture. She has 7+ years of experience in interior and exterior design. Her mission is to inspire others to live their dreams and create their perfect sweet home.
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