Tips to Achieve Perfect Work From Home Balance

Work from home has become the new normal ever since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is now clear that working from home is going to be with us for a while. Achieving harmony between your work life and personal life is easier said than done. It is almost impossible to work without distractions when you are in a homely environment. Many factors like lack of proper workspace, limited or no social interaction, lack of routine, etc can severely affect your body & mind during this crisis.

Are you facing a lot of stress and anxiety while working from home? Are you having trouble maintaining good productivity at work? If you are someone who is trying to figure out ways to de-stress and achieve a good work-life balance, then the following tips are for you.

While you are at home, you end up doing too many things at one time and as a result, you may end up burned out. So it’s always good to define clear boundaries between your workspace and your family space. One way to make this happen is to have a dedicated workspace where you can sit alone and focus on your work. It is okay to keep the door closed while you are working. Also, try to work during the usual office hours even while working from home. This will allow you to unwind and spend some peaceful time with family. It may not be easy to do this at one go, but gradually you can achieve a fine balance.

Managing a home along with a full-time work from home job definitely requires a lot of planning. It is not like the regular office routine where you get to work in a neat and organized office environment. People who are working from home have a tendency to postpone tasks, and completing them gets even more difficult later on. So experts say that it is crucial to stick to a set routine every day rather than doing things randomly. You can increase your productivity by creating and following a daily work schedule. Set your login and log out hours and try to complete your tasks within this timeline. Inform your colleagues and family members about your work schedule and it will help you achieve better work coordination.

You may have a feeling that you are always in the comfort zone while you are working from home. But in reality, it is not true. You miss various aspects of your normal life, shopping, meeting friends, traveling and much more. While you are at home, you have no option to meet people and socialize. Remote work option has made our lives monotonous and uneventful. You keep moving on from one task to another and life goes on. With small children and aged parents at home, a majority of the working professionals are finding it difficult to cope with stress during the lockdown. A good solution to this growing concern is to have enough breaks. Just like working in an office, take short breaks from work and do things you enjoy such as reading, walking, listening to music, or gardening. Remember to give yourself time to reflect, recharge, and rejuvenate your mind & body.

Physical exercise has taken a back seat in our lives now owing to many reasons like lack of routine, laziness, depression, etc. We all are constantly on the go and hardly take time to care for our body. Exercise is an excellent way to achieve work-life balance while working from home. Exercise is not only important for our physical well-being but is also highly beneficial for our mental wellness. If you have been skipping your exercise routine all these days, it’s high time you restart it. Daily exercise can include any activity such as walking, running, yoga or cardio workout. Exercise results in the release of endorphins, which will relieve your stress and enhance your mood. You can even play your favourite sport every morning for a few minutes to feel energised for the day.

Work from home routine has given rise to unhealthy food habits for most people. With a variety of snacks and junk food available just a call away, you may even forget to have your lunch or dinner on a working day. Stick to a proper meal plan and try to avoid the consumption of fried snacks and fast food while working at home. Make a healthy meal plan for your family and yourself and try to follow it every day. Your work-life highly depends on the type of food you eat and the mealtime. Consider following your official lunch break and tea break hours for a healthy lifestyle. Also, remember to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Lack of support and understanding is the major problem that you may face while working remotely. With virtual meetings and phone conversations happening every day, we have almost forgotten how to interact with people. Lack of communication can cause a lot of issues at the work front as well in personal life. Keep some time to talk to your family members every day as it will help them understand you better. Also, interact more with your managers and co-workers to maintain a cordial relationship. Right communication is the key to achieving work from home harmony.

Remote work has its pros and cons, it is up to you to find that fine balance between both and make the job easier. The major benefit of working from home is that it gives you the freedom to manage your time and work. We hope these tips will help you stay productive and stress-free while working from home.