Around 22 million employed adults in the United States work from home 100% of the time, roughly 14% of all employed adults in the U.S. That number will only increase as time goes on and more businesses open remote positions. With more people working from home, finding a balance between work and home life is essential! Here are eight tips to help you find that harmony.
1 – Develop a morning routine.
Many work-from-home (WFH) employees roll out of bed and shuffle into their home offices, but this can be an unproductive way to start the workday. Some employees don’t have a set start time and wait for motivation to strike before getting to work, resulting in procrastination and leading employees to work late to catch up. Create a morning routine that’s easy to stick to and encourage you to get up and go. Try starting your routine with an undelayable first step, such as setting the coffee machine to brew automatically, motivating you to get out of bed sooner so you don’t waste hot coffee.
2 – Get dressed for success!
Working from home makes it easy to go from bed to desk while still in your pajamas. However, make it a point to change out of your pajamas and into a fresh outfit every morning. Getting dressed can help you get into a working mindset and improve your mood throughout the day. Outfit changes can also make it easier to transition out of the workday. Shifting from business casual to loungewear can help distinguish between on-hours and off-hours.
3 – Create a designated workspace.
Designating a workspace and confining it to a specific area in your home boosts your productivity and improves your work/life balance. Separating your workspace from the rest of your home ensures that your home life doesn’t intrude on your work life. Avoid checking emails in front of the TV, and don’t spread your work out on the kitchen table. If you cannot use a separate room entirely, try finding a corner away from the high-traffic areas of your home.
4 – Prevent further isolation.
When you spend most of your time at home, even while working, you risk catching cabin fever. Take advantage of your video communications now that you’re more isolated. If you start feeling lonely, consider setting up a Zoom call with friends and colleagues working from home. Make plans to meet people regularly at the local cafe, your favorite gym, or a brunch date. It can be dangerously easy to stay at home constantly, so make it a point to see and interact with people regularly.
5 – Don’t let people intrude on your workspace.
Friends don’t just chat or hang out in the office if you’re a doctor or teacher. Drop-ins can cause you to lose focus, procrastinate, or fall behind on deadlines. Inform others that your job requires privacy and concentration like other professions. Let everyone know you’re unavailable during work hours and connect again after hours.
6 – Take micro-breaks.
The human body wasn’t designed to stay desk-bound for hours on end. Science has shown the value of taking “micro chillers” or “microbreaks” throughout the workday. These short breaks—five minutes or less—are effective energy management strategies. These breaks can be as simple as stretching, walking up and down stairs, snacking, or having a five-minute mindful meditation. Try going outside to your garden or going for a quick walk around the block.
7 – Practice mindful eating.
Like many job-stressed Americans (even the ones who WFH), you hit the ground running, gobbling down a Danish and slurping down your morning joe as you scamper to your workstation. You skip lunch or eat a leftover taco while typing away at your computer. During lunch, it’s important to practice mindful eating. Sit down and give your food your attention, eating slowly and deliberately. Taste your food, reset your focus, and return refreshed to your workstation.
8 – Separate entirely after work.
Put away your electronics and other work tools as you would store paint brushes after finishing custom artwork or baking ingredients after making a cake. Keeping work reminders out of sight keeps them out of your mind, helping you relax and recharge your batteries.
Launch into Harmonious Work/Life Balance
At Post Launch, our employees have a totally excellent work/life balance, and it shows in our awesome lives outside of work and the quality of work we provide to our clients. We can take some of that creative load off your shoulders so you have more time to focus on critical tasks. Call us to see what we can do to help you balance your work life!
