Working from Home: Find a New Work-Life Balance
As companies look to longer-term shifts to flexible working arrangements, especially in light of any movement restrictions and lockdowns, the struggles of maintaining a balanced professional and personal life have become even more prominent. While some relish rolling out of bed to fresh coffee without the hassle of commuting (or putting on pants), studies show the beneficial outcomes of working from home, such as greater autonomy and a more harmonious work-life balance, do not exist when they are forced.
What is Work-Life Balance?
For many of us, the distinction between “work” and “life” is blurry at best. Not only has tech-dependence made it seemingly impossible to disconnect, but recent mandated work-from-home set-ups have quite literally done away with the distinction.
And while what constitutes “balance” varies from person to person, we know that finding and maintaining that equilibrium between professional obligations and personal free time is key to positive mental health and work productivity.
If you are keen on creating a clearer distinction, we’ve compiled some tips to make it work.
Create Positive Work Boundaries
You may keep regular business hours, but your home obligations might occasionally be a distraction. The best way forward is to communicate with your team to let them know what works best, how to stay in touch, and when you’re committed to calling it a day.
Set up a designated workspace
A clear workplace physically defines the boundary between work and home life. This also helps those living with you to take your working area seriously.
Plan ahead
Being organised will make the work week easier, especially if you are also managing child care.
Stick to a routine
A schedule creates boundaries that help define your day. Set aside time for regular short breaks, physical movement, and meals away from the computer.
Maximise outdoor time
There is ample evidence that physical activity and fresh air elevate your mood and alleviates depression and anxiety. Make a concerted effort to get outside for some serotonin.
Make weekends sacred
A workweek may blend into the weekend when the environment doesn’t change, so treat weekends as sacred and consciously making a decision to leave non-urgent work for the following week. Use the time to rejuvenate and practice self-care.
Prioritise relationships
A good support system is needed to mitigate isolation, fear, and helplessness. This can be tricky when living in close quarters with a partner or family, and even more so when living alone. Make time to connect with the people that matter most to you… and don’t talk about work!
Daily disconnect
It may be tempting to finish off tasks in the evening, but disconnecting is a key component to maintaining mental health while working from home. Where clocking off at a set time and travelling home from work were “evening rituals”, stopping work at dinner time can create a healthy disconnect from work.
Finding a new work-life balance is a personal experience. The most important thing is to check-in with yourself and those around you.
