Whether you’ve recently made the switch to a remote work setup or have been working from home for years now, you probably know how hard it is to maintain a work-life balance at home.
We agree: working from home has tons of advantages. You get to save on gas from commuting and have a more flexible schedule. And compared to working in a physical office, you can get things done more efficiently and quickly at home.
But for many remote workers, there’s a huge challenge to preserving that line between their personal and professional lives.
If you’re one of these workers, this post may help you strike that hard-to-achieve balance in a remote work setup. Read on and learn a few tips on how to do so at home.
Dedicate a Space for Work
Let’s start by solidifying the blurred line between your professional and personal life: make a physical one. If you work on your laptop in bed or on your couch, it’s high time to create a dedicated office space for yourself.
Your workspace doesn’t have to be in a separate room. You can simply choose a quiet corner in your home and set up your desk, chair, equipment, and maybe a beautiful Japanese divider there.
Whichever part of your apartment you pick as your office space, make sure that it’s free of clutter and other distractions. That way, you can focus on your tasks and avoid temptations–be they finishing up your chores or binge-watching on Netflix–as you do your work.
Stick to a Schedule
What’s great about remote work is that you get to have a flexible schedule.
But when things are too good to be true, they sometimes are. In this case, having the ability to work whenever leads to working overtime or staying online late at night.
That said, you’ll have to manage your time more meticulously as you work from home.
Set a schedule and try to adhere to it as much as possible. By logging on and off on time, you can easily be more efficient at work and plan your personal activities ahead.
Communicate with Your Coworkers
One thing that many remote workers miss in a traditional office? The water cooler chats. If this sounds like you, then you might want to consider pinging your closest coworker every now and then.
Communication is key to a productive remote workplace. And most of the time, it’s best to communicate more than necessary.
Because in this kind of workplace, there’s no such thing as overcommunication.
Whether you hop on a Zoom call with your team during breaks or step out of your home to meet face-to-face, open communication can help you build trust and improve collaboration in a remote work environment.
Take Breaks
Ever been in the zone as you work from home? That’s certainly great for productivity. But sometimes, you can lose track of your time and forget to take a break.
While it’s hard to break the momentum in a passion-fueled project, it’s necessary to give yourself some time to breathe and rest.
Step outside and get some fresh air to get your creative juices flowing. Find the time to reward yourself with a nourishing lunch. Maybe consider practicing the Pomodoro technique or taking short breaks after every 20 minutes.
No matter how you spend your work breaks, remember that you deserve them. Treating yourself regularly can help you get through the daily grind, avoid burnout, and achieve a work-life balance at home.
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