Home, Work, and Harmony: Remote Work Life

Knowing how to separate remote work from personal life can be tricky. We will give you some of our proven tips to help you with this process.

Knowing how to separate remote work from personal life while working from home can be tricky, but we have some proven tips to help!

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 abruptly forced office workers worldwide to rapidly shift to remote work, altering how we previously conducted business and interacted with one another. This shift presented many challenges, but one that should have been the easiest to manage became one of the most difficult. Separating your work from your personal life seems simple, but many have learned it can be quite a feat.

When lockdown happened, we lost our regular routines and a seemingly overlooked ritual that most of us didn’t realize was a thing until it was gone. That time between the end of your work day and starting your regular nightly regimen was gone or just deeply blurred as we jumped from one Zoom meeting to the next. We traded our time for increased productivity.

Fast forward to the present day, and we are now a hybrid workforce that will never go back. Organizations have realized that splitting time between remote working and the office has increased mental well-being and productivity more than ever, and we will give you some guidance on creating boundaries to create and maintain a harmonious work-life balance.

Health

To give 100% during business hours, you must provide your body the time to rest and recharge. Without proper rest, your stress levels increase, which leads to anxiety and depression, as well as a host of related physical ailments.

Ever notice your back starts hurting from sitting in that chair all day?

Set moving timers

Get up every hour and pace for at least 2 minutes. Do some leg swings, calf raises, stretches, or a treadmill that fits under the desk, if possible. Not only does this help posture, but also with back and neck pain associated with sitting for too long. Also, stimulating blood flow can help you think through problems and, as a bonus, burn a few extra calories.

Eat lunch daily

Eating lunch at the same time every day helps you keep a schedule for yourself, your clients, and your employer. Allowing yourself a 30-minute to an hour break can be a highly effective way to unwind and destress.

Nap time

Studies have shown that naps as short as 20 minutes can significantly increase overall health and energy levels. So grab a blankie or teddy and take a nap.

Fresh air

Go for a hike or walk after work.
Take up a sport or hobby that has nothing to do with work.
Make sure you get out of the house. It’s the most crucial part of separating yourself from work.

Work Space

Space may be tight if you are working remotely. Not everyone has a separate office. These are some best practices to keep you going.

Never work where you sleep

Studies have shown that having an office in your bedroom or simply working on your phone or laptop in bed can severely hinder sleep. We recommend a separate room if you have that option, but if you don’t, then privacy curtains or a foldable room divider will work wonders to break up the space. They also help with blocking out distractions and noise in the background.

Use different accounts and devices

At the end of your workday, sign out of all your work accounts, primarily if you use the same computer for work and personal use. Use separate devices if you can, but it’s imperative to separate your work and personal life at the end of the day, including your technology.

Set a schedule

Make sure your clients and colleagues are clear about your availability. You don’t want to give the impression that you are accessible 24/7. Setting a strict boundary could feel unsettling, but it is the most essential part of having a healthy work-life balance. We can assure you no one will be offended by your choice to take care of yourself, and if they are, you don’t want to work with them anyway.

Remember to have fun!

Making time for friends and family is essential. Our relationships are typically the first to fall victim to the blurred work-life line, and it has been an issue long before we ever had to deal with lockdown. Making time to go out with friends or have a meal with your family is the ultimate reset button to a busy remote week and will help give you the perspective you need to understand why having boundaries is so important.

Remote work has become an absolute necessity in our lives – a crucial component of our day-to-day routine that we simply cannot do without. The challenges of separating work from personal life can be arduous, but with this guide, you can create and maintain a harmonious work-life balance. Remember, a healthy balance between work and personal life is essential, and you deserve it.