Working from home can lead to unique challenges when it comes to establishing the right work-life balance. These three tips can help.
The coronavirus pandemic led to massive changes in how people work. Companies that had previously required their employees to work from the office full-time were suddenly asking their workforce to stay home. The change was overnight. Years later, many of those same employees are still working in a fully remote capacity, or at least continuing to work from home one or more days a week.
Technology has allowed many of us to stay connected and productive while working from home, but the pressure to always be “on” and available can impact your work-life balance. If you’ve been feeling like your health, personal relationships, and productivity haven’t been maintained at the level you’d prefer, here are some ideas to consider.
1. Unplug after hours
If your employer hasn’t done so already, establish a firm quitting time at the end of each workday and stick to it. Try to limit the number of times you check email or answer your phone for anything business-related after hours, especially on weekends and before bedtime, as screen viewing can disrupt sleep.
If you’re required to stay connected with work on your days off, in case of an urgent matter, consider meeting with your leadership to discuss times when you’ll be available and, just as importantly, when you won’t be. Also discuss the ways you’d prefer they try reaching you during “off” hours, so you can maintain boundaries.
2. Exercise regularly
Working out boosts both your emotional and physical health. The good news is you don’t have to run a daily 5k or spend hours in the gym to see results. ResearchFootnote1 shows that walking at a brisk pace for 150 minutes per week — or just 30 minutes each business day — can help:
- Improve cardiovascular health
- Decrease the risk of certain cancers
- Increase cognitive function
- Improve mood and sleep
- Lubricate joints and strengthen bones
- Lower blood sugar levels
- Boost immunity
3. Set long- and short-term goals and priorities
It’s important to model how you want your life to look. Consider mapping out a diagram of the percentage of your life you want to devote to work versus other pursuits over the next two to five years. If you’re consciously working toward a specific kind of balance, it may be easier to make decisions along the way that enable you to get there.
For example, if you want to be more involved with your family, you may decide to forego a work promotion, especially if it requires you to be online and available for too many additional hours per week.
You could also set unique goals in major areas of your life, such as professional development, personal growth, family, and friends. Once you’ve identified those categories, list your priorities for the next several months, as well as your long-term goals for the next year or so. Consider reviewing the lists with a friend or loved one who can help motivate you to stick to those goals.
Hopefully these suggestions will allow you to recenter yourself and renew your focus on what matters to you most.
