Having that work-life balance is ultimately the best thing you do for yourself. Without work-life balance, there’s a huge tendency to burn yourself out, which is detrimental to your mental health. This circumstance happens especially when you’re working remotely as even if you make money from home, there’s a lack of separation between work and your personal life.
Even if you say that your work is something you love, it’s easy to exhaust yourself to the point of no return when your home is also your workspace. In this article, we’ll be talking about tips for working remotely to keep your work life separate from your home life.
1. Stick to a Strict Schedule
One of the worst parts of working remotely is the availability. It’s easy to feel like you need to be available all the time as you’re just at home, but this isn’t healthy.
Even at home, you need to stick to a schedule when working. Flexibility and availability are both factors that lead to a lack of balance between work and personal life. Sticking to a schedule will make working from home much bearable as it sets boundaries on when you’re available and aren’t for your team.
Similar to working in an office setting, you’ll know when to stop working within the day to recharge your energy. If your schedule is working from the hours of 8 am to 5 pm, then that’s the schedule you should stick to. A schedule also makes you feel like you have a routine to look forward to, which is similar to working in an office environment.
2. Keep a Separate Workspace
With regards to a home office setup, you need to have a separate area away from where you rest or spend your leisure in. You should have a home office design that makes you feel motivated to go to work, but also one that’s distinct from the comfort of the rest of your home.
A modern home office will keep you focused on your work tasks and deadlines for the day and once you step away from your work area, your mind knows that it’s time to focus on your personal life and yourself. If you choose your bedroom or the couch to get work done, you won’t feel as motivated as your mind associates this place with relaxation. Choose a workspace that’s clutter-free and dedicated solely for work purposes, nothing else.
3. Make Plans After Work
One of the work from home tips you should take note of is having something to look forward to when work is over. It’s extremely hard to enjoy your rest hours when your home and workspace are one. By having something to look forward to when work ends such as watching Netflix or working out, you’ll find it easier to integrate work-life balance in your life.
If you actually make plans after work, you won’t be tempted to work past your expected work hours since you have plans. Even if certain work from home jobs make you unable to make plans as work is your top priority, remember to set boundaries and take care of your mental health.
4. Go for Walks
This might not seem like a big deal, but taking a walk does so much for both your productivity and mental health. Jobs from home require you to give your very best as you’re just at home, but it doesn’t always work like that. In fact, working remotely can seem overwhelming, exhausting, and draining more than working in an office setting can.
Stay-at-home jobs may seem like you have all the time and control in the world, but the opposite is true. Taking a walk in between work tasks can be such a life-changer, especially when you have consecutive deadlines. Even if it’s just a five-minute walk, you’ll be more energized as soon as you go back.
5. Exercise
Physical activity is one of the most underrated ways to keep that work-life balance in your life. It’s easy to get caught up in your work tasks that you forget to take care of your health and wellbeing. In fact, if you have the time, exercise puts you in the right mood and mindset if you do it before work hours.
You don’t need to go to the gym to exercise, but home workouts are becoming a thing now, especially with the rise of remote work. You’ll feel like you have a life separate from your career once you integrate any kind of physical activity in your day.
6. Avoid Perfectionism
It’s the easiest thing to be a perfectionist when you’re working remotely, given the fact that you’re constantly available. You can’t achieve work-life balance when you’re always striving for perfection. Not only is this the most detrimental for your mental health, but it’s never going to get you anywhere.
You cannot push yourself beyond your limits just because you’re working from home. It’s important to set boundaries and adapt accordingly.
7. Ignore Distractions
When you’re surrounded by distractions, you’ll never get any real work done. Contrary to the other things on this list, distractions won’t help you stick to your work schedule at home. If you see things such as dirty dishes piled up, it’s best to ignore it until your work is done for the day. Otherwise, if you’re constantly giving in to distractions around you, you’ll end up extending work hours all because you didn’t finish your tasks within the given time.
In conclusion, I hope this article was able to shed insight on how to keep your work and home lives separate when working from home. Remote work may seem like the ideal option in your career, but it’s a challenge regarding work-life balance. It’s easy to merge your work and personal life when working from home, but as long as you create boundaries and stick to them, you’ll be fine. It’s all about sticking to a certain routine and still ensuring you have time for yourself.
