How To Maintain Work-Life Balance When You Work From Home

Setting Boundaries and Maximizing Personal Happiness When You Work Remotely

Ahh remote work, what was once considered a far-off utopian dream, has now become a reality for many. No long commutes in bumper-to-bumper traffic, soul-sucking cubicle farms, or energy vampire coworkers who seem to create drama on a daily basis. Just a quiet, cozy office, hot cup of coffee, and nothing to distract you… besides maybe a cute cat monopolizing your keyboard.

But working remotely can often come with its own set of challenges. Here are some tips to maintain work-life balance when you work from home, and prevent yourself from getting burnt out.

Boundaries, Boundaries, Boundaries

When you work remotely the lines between work and life can quickly become blurred. If you’re always reachable, always available, always working, chances are you’re quickly going to burn out.

Yes, you might no longer be stuck in the office from 9 — 5, but now your office has infiltrated your personal space. The boundaries that once existed have been obliterated. That’s why it’s important to establish new boundaries and stick to them. Otherwise, it can quickly lead to a slippery slope of feeling like you are on call 24/7.

Set a Quitting Time

Determine a specific time each day when you’re gonna stop working. Stick to it religiously, and avoid the temptation to “just respond to one more email” or “wrap up this one last thing.” When the clock hits your designated quitting time it signals work life ends and personal life begins.

When you’re lying on your death bed are you going to look back and think to yourself, “I really wish I spent two more hours on that PowerPoint!” or “I wish I worked late more nights!” I doubt it.

If you are really feeling productive, why not work on a passion project or side hustle? If you really want to work for free why not go volunteer at a soup kitchen or help out a friend? As long as you're doing a good job and working during work hours, you shouldn’t feel guilty about enjoying your personal life.

Get Comfortable Saying “No”

There’s often an unspoken pressure to be constantly available. It’s as if they think your virtual office doors should be propped open all day and all night. Learning to say “no” becomes an essential skill for preserving your work-life balance in this situation, otherwise, the demands of work will never stop.

When you need to say “no,” do so diplomatically. Express your appreciation for the opportunity but explain your current workload or commitments that make it impossible to take on additional tasks.

Don’t Feel The Need To Respond Within 10 Seconds

Instead of immediately responding to every email or message, consider adopting a slightly delayed response approach. Let others know that you’ll get back to them within a reasonable timeframe, allowing you to manage your workload more effectively.

When you’re trying to focus on work, especially something requiring deep focus, it can take you out of the zone to constantly be responding to pings. In the past there was a reasonable expectation of 24 hours or even a few days to respond to emails or requests. But now that everyone is used to text messaging and DMs people feel a pressure to respond quicker to everything constantly. This isn’t sustainable and doesn’t lead to better work. Let go of that inner fight or flight response and shift your behavior.

Create a Shutdown Ritual

Develop a routine that signals the end of your workday. It could be as simple as logging off and shutting your laptop lid, tidying up your workspace, or turning off all the lights in your office and shutting the door.

Whatever it is, it should signal to your brain that your personal corporation is closed for the night. This sets not only a mental boundary, but a physical boundary as well.

Block Out Screen-Free Time

Set aside some time each night where you leave your phone and computer on Do Not Disturb or even in another room to charge. Use this time to relax, connect with loved ones, pursue hobbies, or whatever stuff regular, wholesome, people did back in the early 90s.

When you’re sitting in Zoom calls all day, constantly on one screen or another, it's helpful to balance this out by setting boundaries with your devices. If you find yourself doom scrolling on social media, set limits on your social media use or even put your phone in a drawer to prevent those unconscious moments where your phone suddenly ends up back in your hand without you noticing.

Mental Tips and Tricks

Avoid Feeling Guilty

For many remote workers, guilt can be a persistent a battle. Guilt about taking breaks, guilt about not being productive enough, guilt about not being present enough for family and friends. It’s crucial to recognize and address this guilt if we want to find a happy balance.

First, understand that breaks are not a luxury; they are necessary. Regular breaks, both short and longer ones, are essential for maintaining focus, creativity, and overall well-being. They are not signs of laziness but allow you to work more productively.

Second, remind yourself that work is just one aspect of your life. Your worth as a person is not solely determined by your professional achievements. Embrace the multifaceted nature of your existence, and acknowledge that you have the right to prioritize your well-being, relationships, and personal interests.

Set a Good Routine

Establishing a daily routine can help you feel a sense of stability and predictability while also strengthening your self discipline. Try to dedicate the first hour of your morning to activities that help improve your mental state. Whether it’s meditation, exercise, or just sitting on your sunny balcony with a cup of coffee, try to start the day on a positive note.

Don’t forget to schedule in a lunch break and short walks to clear your mind. If you aren’t intentional it becomes the norm to realize it’s 3pm and you haven’t eaten lunch yet. Just like you’d schedule an important meeting, it’s important to schedule in time for basic wellness.

Use The Pomodoro Technique

Throughout the day, structure your work into focused time blocks, each followed by a short break. The Pomodoro Technique, which involves working in 25-minute intervals with a 5-minute break, is a great way to increase productivity while also preventing burnout.

Final Thoughts

We hope you’ve found these tips helpful! While working remotely is a great way to reclaim agency and hours of your time, it can come with unique challenges. Have any other tips and tricks that have helped you maintain work-life balance while working remotely? Feel free to share in the comments!

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