Finding Work-Life Balance While You Work From Home

With many people now working from home, it has never been more important to understand how to achieve work-life balance. It can feel like an impossible balance to find now that the lines have become more blurred; with your workspace now taking up a physical presence in your home life. 

But it is important to find a work-life balance to reduce stress and increase productivity. Below are 5 tips to help you find your balance.

1. Set Boundaries

‘Work smarter, not harder’. I know you’ve heard it before but it’s true – except maybe we can change ‘harder’ to ‘longer’. If you don’t already, set yourself ‘office hours’ and stick to them. That means don’t start earlier or finish later. 

This means not answering any calls, texts or emails from work outside of your office hours. It can be hard due to the 24/7 availability technology allows but it’s important to keep your set boundaries.

2. Exercise

It might not be on your personal life’s priority list but it should be. Exercise reduces stress and boosts productivity while giving you a much needed break from your computer screen. It will help you unwind and disassociate from your work.

3. Prioritize

It’s way too easy to be distracted while working from home. Sometimes the amount of things you have to do becomes overwhelming so it is important to prioritize. Make a list of everything that needs to be completed at work and in your home. Then prioritize it and remember to keep your work and home life separate – don’t get distracted by dishes in the sink through work hours and don’t think about that article you’re supposed to write while you’re eating dinner.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, people!

4. Re-learn to Relax

You might think you know how to relax, but do you? How often do you switch off completely and I’m not just talking about turning off your phone? For at least 20 minutes a day, you should take time for yourself, by yourself. This time should be spent away from people and technology. 

Take time to clear your thoughts, just lie down and stare at the ceiling or the sky. Meditation is a great way to disconnect from the world and connect with yourself. There are many apps that can walk you through a meditation session – so, I guess maybe you can use your phone. Taking the time to yourself will give you more clarity and increase your focus.

5. You Need to Sleep

We all think that staying up to finish some work or a new Netflix series won’t affect us that bad… but it does! If you’re not getting enough sleep, you’re going to struggle to create and maintain a work-life balance. If you struggle to get to bed when you need, set a bedtime and stick to it. Pencil this into your to-do list or put a reminder on your phone if you work well with a structured life. Once you’ve created a healthy sleeping pattern, you’ll find yourself a lot less tired and a lot more productive.

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