Helpful Advice on How to Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance
The lines between work and home life have blurred as working from home has become the new normal. In the past, it was easier to set boundaries between work and family, but now with our office and home taking place in the same space, it's easier to get consumed by our jobs.
This can especially happen to people who typically work long hours. The use of technology has led to a constant connection to work, preventing a solid boundary between work and home. If you're starting to feel burnt out or are looking to improve your work-life balance, check out our tips below:
Create a work schedule.
Establishing a strict start and end time for your workday is the first step towards separating your work and home life. You may find that your productivity increases by doing so. Having a specified end of day time will push you to get most of your work done by that time. Once your workday is over, you can feel less stressed knowing you can fully enjoy your time spent with family, friends, or personal projects.
Dedicate an area as your "office."
As much as you may be tempted to work from the comfort of your bed or couch, that will make it easier for you to constantly be plugged into work. Instead, find a space or area within your home that will be your designated work area. This should be the only place you conduct work-related things. By dedicating a space as your office, it helps set a healthy boundary between your personal and work life.
Stick to a routine.
Even if your "commute" to work just consists of you logging onto your computer, maintaining or adjusting your get-ready-for-work routine will keep you on a schedule. Following normal routines such as waking up early to have breakfast or changing into work attire, helps you transition into work-mode, and feel ready to start the day.
Once your workday ends, treat it just like you would if you were leaving the office. Once you change from your work clothes to loungewear, then you're helping to separate your office life from your home life.
Set goals for yourself.
Each day you should set goals for projects or objectives you're looking to achieve. Write them down so that you can check them off during your workday. It's also important to make sure you're not overloading your day with too many large projects. Try breaking them down into smaller, more manageable tasks that you can complete by the end of the day. If not, then you'll risk working longer hours and burning yourself out.
Take breaks throughout the day.
Just because you're not working in an office anymore, doesn't mean that you have to stay glued to your computer all day. Continue treating your workday as if you were still in the office. Take small breaks to help divide your day up into blocks. Besides your usual lunch break, make sure you're getting up to walk around or casually chatting with family and coworkers throughout the day.
Give yourself a day off.
Family time is important, which is why you should give yourself a day or two to focus on spending time with them. Even if you're just staying at home with them, dedicating an entire day to your family will help you recharge and connect with them without the distractions of work.
Unplug at the end of the day.
The end of your workday is when you should turn off the computer and avoid checking your email. This is where having a strict work schedule comes in. If you're continuing to check your email after the end of your workday, then you're not really finished working. While this may be tempting to do, it only burns you out in the long run. Finding a balance between your work life and personal life won't always be perfect, but working towards a healthy separation will benefit both over time.
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