5 Tips to Keep a Healthy Work-Life Balance While Working From Home

Not too long ago, working from home was mostly a limited benefit given by employers. However, the recent pandemic turned it into a somewhat permanent setup for a lot more people. Working from home may be different from working in the office - but both require similar elements for you to be efficient. One of these is keeping a healthy work-life balance.

Maintaining a work-life balance when you’re working from home can be more challenging than you might think. When you’re office-based, you can easily leave all your tasks in your cubicle the moment work hours are over. You can go home and have dinner with your family or spend the evening out with your friends. It’ll be hard to do that when you’re working at home because your work can easily take over your usual daily routine. So, here are some work-from-home tips you can try to avoid this from happening:

1. Create a space for work

Setting boundaries is one of the most efficient ways to achieve a work-life balance. In a work-from-home setup, one way to do this is to create a home office. Choose a place in your house that can give you privacy and keep you away from distractions - areas to avoid include the bedroom or living room as your mind can have a hard time associating these areas with work.

Your home office should help you focus and be more productive. So, keep it organized and free of any clutter. It would be great if you can find a spot at home that’s somehow detached from your everyday living space. It can be an extra room that you don’t use or a place that you don’t usually spend time in. This way, you can unplug yourself and stay away from it outside office hours.

2. Set a schedule

Working from home can make it seem like you’re available at all times. So, following a fixed schedule consistently will sharpen up these blurry lines. It will let your coworkers know when you’re most available to tend to office matters. 

When choosing your hours, it’s best to pick a time when you’re most productive and when you’re most needed.

Another advantage of having a fixed schedule is you’ll have time for other activities. You can pursue your hobbies, watch a movie, spend time with your family and friends, or do whatever it is that you want or need to do. Working from home for long hours can lead to stress, exhaustion, and burnout. So, doing other activities can give you an opportunity to relax and unwind, which can help you maintain your motivation to work the next day.

3. Take a break

With no colleagues to drag you away from your desk every lunch break, working from home can make you lose track of time to the point that you’ll end up working the whole day. Keep in mind that you’re still entitled to take short breaks in between even though you’re not in the office. Give yourself a chance to refresh your mind so that you can maintain your productivity throughout the day.

Eat your meals at the right time and take short snack breaks to keep yourself energized. You can also step away from your home office for 10-15 minutes to stretch your legs and get some fresh air. Go out for a quick walk or run some quick errands. For instance, you can go and buy groceries, cook your meals, or walk your dog. Remember, too much sitting is bad for your physical health. And be sure to take care of your mental health too - self-care treatments can make all the difference.

4. Stay connected to other people

Working from home can become isolating in the long run. As social creatures, we long for social interaction. We shouldn’t let our job get in the way of spending time with our family and friends, so set aside time for your social life by scheduling meetings within work hours and leaving the non-urgent tasks for the next day.

You can also have a short chat with your colleagues. Talk to them about non-related work matters through different communication tools provided by your company to check on them from time to time and develop a connection. Talking with other people, even if it’s done virtually, will help you establish trust with your peers and have a feeling of belonging within the company itself.

5. Ask for support

When you’re working from home, you’re vulnerable to stress, burnout, and depression. Sometimes, setting even the most fool-proof boundaries and self-care treatments won’t make these go away. This setup can sometimes make you feel as if you’re all alone and that no one can understand your situation.

When this happens, reach out to people. Don’t keep it to yourself. Talk to a family member, colleague, or supervisor. Chances are, they can offer you support in more ways than one. Your employer may suggest that you take some time off or have a lighter work schedule.

If the job that comes with your role is the issue, don’t be afraid to ask for a change in the department. Your employer won’t know if anything is wrong if you don’t tell them. This is when communication becomes so crucial, so it’s important to speak up.

Conclusion

Working from home has a lot of benefits; when you take out all the hassle that comes with working an on-site position, you can have more time to create a perfect work-life balance. However, it can also be easy to get caught up in long hours of work with the absence of solid boundaries that in-office working provides. So, ultimately, it’s up to you to find a balance you’re comfortable with to help you achieve a healthy work-life balance.

To make the most of it, you’ll need self-discipline, focus, effort, and a strong support system. Getting accustomed to this setup can take time, but if done right, working from home can help you pursue other passions and spend quality time with the people who are most dear to you.