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Working from home sounds like a dream. You get to set your own hours, dress casually and generally be in the comfort of your own home.
However, it’s not always as easy as it sounds and it’s not for everyone. And as people have realized over the past few weeks during the COVID-19 crisis, some remote workers seriously struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
If this is you, don’t despair. You can still make some changes to achieve a healthier work-life ratio.
So, take some initiative and set some goals and standards. Here are six ways to improve work-life balance when you work from home.
1. Start the Day Right
First things first: Start the day off right. Can you work in your pajamas? Yes. Should you? Not really. When you get up each morning, prepare for your workday as if you’re headed to an office. Your home office.
Take a shower to feel refreshed and get dressed in work-appropriate attire, at the very least. Do your hair and makeup if it makes you feel more confident. But the point here is to alter your mindset into a successful, business-like mode.
Starting the day off right could also mean creating a personalized morning ritual. Grab a cup of tea or make a smoothie in your blender, sitting down to make a to-do list to keep you on track for the entire day.
2. Set “Office Hours”
For those who work from home, it can be a challenge to tune out at the end of the day. So, it’s best to set some boundaries and save your sanity with personal “office hours.”
If you collaborate with others, share your office hours and encourage them to share theirs as well. This establishes a clear time period where they can reach out, and you can do the same.
However, outside of these office hours, be sure to take some extra precautions. Offer your phone number to text in a true emergency, but, otherwise, set up a time period overnight to hold certain work-related notifications. If you use Slack, Asana or similar apps to collaborate globally, make sure you don’t get a ping at three o’clock in the morning.
3. Dedicate Time to Specific Tasks
Aside from setting personal office hours, you should also stick to a schedule. Block out specific times for your tasks, recognizing which hours of the day you function most optimally. If your brain works best at sunrise, start your day then. If you work better after you’ve had coffee and made a to-do list for the day, give yourself some buffer room in the morning. But whatever you do, keep a rhythm and stay consistent.
Also, be sure to set aside time for usual daily tasks, such as checking and responding to emails. In fact, make sure this is not something you start your day with, as this can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety.
4. Create a Home Office or Separate Workspace
Create a home office you enjoy being in and a place to focus without distractions. It can be created inside a guest bedroom or even a renovated closet. But wherever you decide, make it your dedicated workspace, separate from the bedrooms and other common areas.
Even if you don’t have a spare room to transition into a home office, you still have options. Create a workspace at your kitchen table or purchase a small table to place in the corner of the living room. Separating living areas where you go to relax from work areas where you get jobs done can help maintain a healthy work-life balance in the most literal sense.
In the same vein, keep one room or area of the home completely business-free. Most prefer to keep the bedroom free from work, in order for it to remain a calming and relaxing retreat.
5. Take Breaks and Get Out
When you work from home, it can leave you a bit stir crazy. There are two ways to combat this. First, be sure to take breaks. Stand up and walk around a bit, even if it’s just to the kitchen to grab a quick snack.
If you suffer from cabin fever, go for a 10-minute stroll around the neighborhood for some fresh air. Alternatively, if you’d rather be around people, after being holed up for a while, you could also work in a local coffee shop or library. Sometimes buzz and talk can be enough to make you feel less lonely. Whatever gets you out of the house and presents new scenery can often be a welcome distraction.
6. Get Daily Exercise
Since working from home saves a long commute to work, plus the cost of gas, why not shift this free time into daily exercise and a home gym? Invest in a few pieces of fitness equipment and start the day off with a morning workout routine.
Exercise is good for your health in many ways, improving your physical health and mental health. Just a short walk on a treadmill can improve your mood and remove those creative blocks.
7. Find Hobbies
Hobbies also offer their own outlet and can drastically improve your work-life balance in several ways. For one, it can create some mood-boosting serotonin to relax you. In fact, a new hobby may be something you look forward to, forcing you to pull yourself away from your desk.
Second, a hobby can be wonderful for social interactions. Those who work at home should absolutely find ways to mingle and socialize. Join a club with others who share the same interests and meet new people. Search on Meetup or Eventbrite for local book clubs, cooking classes or even sports-related activities.
How Will You Improve Your Work-Life Balance?
Ready to improve your work-life balance while work from home during the COVID-19 crisis? Try some of these suggestions, and you’ll soon be running your home office efficiently and happily.
