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How To Balance Work And Life When Working Remotely
Written by: Justine Liew


Working from home has become increasingly popular with many benefits that include flexible working hours, increased productivity, zero-commute finance, more quality time spent with your loved ones, and many more.  Remote work allows you to form your schedule around your life that suits you best. However, ever since the Covid-19 Pandemic, working remotely became mandatory to curb the spread of the virus. Ultimately, it can be challenging to balance work and personal life when working remotely. 


Everyone has different ways of achieving and defining what it means to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Here are our eight tips that you can follow to maintain a balanced work-life:

Create A Work Schedule


Much like working from a physical office with fixed office hours, creating and sticking to a schedule can help you build a consistent routine. This will boost your productivity and let you get important tasks done on time without your bosses hounding you (nobody likes that).

Having a fixed schedule can help you maintain a healthy balance between work life and personal life to alleviate some of the stress from working long hours.

Communicate With Your Team


More often than not, important messages get lost in translation when working remotely. To illustrate, your colleague sends you an email or a Slack message requesting a task to be completed but it was sent at a time you weren’t looking at your computer, which may cause friction between you two. 


With a work schedule in place, you can notify your team members of your office hours so they know when to expect a response from you. It is important to keep in close contact to ensure better job satisfaction and allow the team to complete projects more efficiently as a whole.

Carve Out A Working Space


It can be tempting to set up an office in your home anywhere and the popular places are either on the bed or on the sofa as there are no fixed rules to where or how you should work. You might find yourself giving the excuse that it is more comfortable that way but, in reality, it creates a distraction and promotes an unhealthy work-life balance (and you may drift back into dreamland when you choose to remain on your bed because I did it before). 


Instead, set up a working space and only allow yourself to work in that space. That way, it can prevent work from spilling into your personal life by limiting the time and place you should work.

Set Boundaries


Many distractions may seem more appealing than work when you’re at home. Hence, it is essential to establish boundaries to avoid letting your work life and home life blend together. If your family members are home, make it clear that you need to be focused during the work hours you have created to avoid carrying over uncompleted tasks.


Remember to also minimise any distractions when working. These can include your phone, the TV news, and walking to the kitchen every ten minutes to see if anything new or interesting has appeared in the fridge.

Take Timed Breaks


It can be easy to lose track of time by going from one task to another without taking any breaks in between. You have to remind yourself that even though it is essential to work hard, it is also crucial to work smart. Give yourself a 15-minute break every one and a half hours and go for a quick walk around the block or talk to your family members during the break. 


Think of it this way, if you were in the office, you would stop for the toilet and lunch breaks. Working remotely adopts the same concept. This will let you maintain a healthy balance between your work life and personal life.

Get Regular Exercise


Most people forget the importance of getting regular exercise when working at a 9-5 job. Sitting in front of a desk facing the computer for hours on end without any movement can be unhealthy for your body. 


Now that you have the opportunity, accommodating exercise into your schedule/routine can promote a healthy work-life balance. If you don’t have enough time to head to the gym, simple activities like taking your dog for a walk, completing house chores, or even a quick yoga routine at home can improve blood circulation and reduce stress. 

Make Time For Yourself


As human beings, we tend to drown ourselves in work and forget other basic care and before you know it, you may end up getting sick due to stress overload. It is important to put yourself (mentally and physically) first when things get too overwhelming. 


Setting aside some time for yourself will keep you focused and energised to tackle other tasks with your mind refreshed. Prioritising exercise, hobbies, meditation, or anything that keeps you happy can melt away some of your stress. That way, it can positively impact your capability to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Put Your Work Away At The End Of The Day


It can be challenging to power off and unplug from your workday which can decrease your work-life balance when you’re at home. To have a healthy balance between the two, you need to learn that it is time to stop and leave your work when the allotted time for the end of office hours arrive. 


Shut down your computer, close all open tabs, and leave your designated workspace. Do not return unless you (absolutely) need to and only touch your computer on the next working day. Celebrate the end of a stressful day by watching your favourite TV series or meet a friend for happy hour. This helps your brain realize that it is time to rest, recover, and relax.

Conclusion

At unprecedented times that Covid-19 is still present in many countries, it is essential to have a healthy work-life balance when working remotely. Remote workers have more job satisfaction and are more productive in getting tasks done on time. The best thing about working remotely is the freedom that comes with it! You are entitled to choose the kind of schedule that performs best for you to keep you happy and productive at the same time.


Disclaimer: The pictures used do not belong to us. Credits to the rightful owners.