Does Working Remotely Strain Your Work-Life Balance?

While cutting out commute time and traffic was an unexpected silver lining to the pandemic for many, working remotely can blur the lines between work and personal time.

As many offices move to a hybrid work model, you may find yourself splitting time between the office and working from home – or your employer may have decided to keep you in a remote capacity. The question is, are you able to find the right balance? These simple tips will help ensure that you are.

1. Set clear boundaries and work hours

Most companies at this point are comfortable equipping you with everything you need to work remotely, ranging from printers (we’re going to assume fax machines are mostly in the past) and extra screens to laptops and data plans. 

While it’s tempting to stick to a single device – especially if the bill is covered – it may be helpful to separate your work computer (or phone) from your personal one, so you can truly clock out for the day when you log off. 

On a similar note, having clear work hours helps establish a schedule for both you and your employer. Whether it’s the traditional 9-5 or a more flexible schedule that’s agreed upon, you should be clear what hours you are not available and spending on personal activities – and this goes for all communication, ranging from phone calls and emails to communication platforms such as Slack.

2. Delegate, and if needed, hire temporary staffing

Even with remote work, everyone deserves a vacation. In your absence, delegate tasks and contacts across staff to avoid overburdening any one colleague. If your workload is still too much, consider hiring temporary staff. 

This requires planning ahead – your colleagues, clients, and vendors should have sufficient notice, so they’ve got what they need to carry on in your absence.

Be sure to introduce them to staff that can assist them while you’re away should something come up.  Give yourself the time to plan out what will need to be done before you go. Try to wrap up those projects and to do’s before you head out the door. 

In your rush to get out the door and start that well-deserved vacation, don’t forget to turn on your out-of-office notice on both your outgoing voicemail and email. Be sure to include contact information for someone that can direct them to appropriate staff while you’re away and make sure your notifications include your return date.  

3. Self-care is critical

The pandemic, and recent events such as political unrest and police violence, have had a significant impact on mental health throughout the world. It’s more important than ever to take care of yourself, physically and mentally.

With the closure of gyms and exercise facilities, many lost their habit of working out at a specific time or day. It’s crucial to remember that exercise isn’t just good for the body but reduces stress and helps with mental health too. The endorphins lift your mood, and this form of self-care is all too often underappreciated.

4. Limit or eliminate time-wasters

Remember in school when Facebook was blocked on the library computers?

Whether it’s the time-sucking appeal of TikTok and Facebook or just Internet surfing, try to understand what activities take you down a rabbit hole. Eliminate these from the hours you have dedicated to work – there’s productivity software that can block certain websites or simply catch yourself when you’re straying. 

While it may be difficult at first, you’ll soon get used to avoiding these time-wasting activities and find your productivity goes up. In addition, you may find you’re getting more done and can allocate more time to these activities outside of work hours – or find other hobbies that make you happier!