How you can improve your work-life balance while working remotely

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work became more popular than ever all over the world. As more and more Americans take up remote jobs, it is important to talk about maintaining a better work-life balance. Here are some strategies you can employ to improve your work-life balance while working remotely to have a more fulfilling career:

Set Clear Boundaries

One thing that many of our clients mention about remote work is that it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain the boundary between their work life and personal life with remote work. The only option you have is to set clear boundaries between your work and personal lives. Some steps you can take to achieve this are setting specific work hours, creating a dedicated workspace, and avoiding work tasks outside of work hours.

Create a Schedule

Having a schedule to stick to will improve your productivity. With a schedule, you will be able to manage your time more effectively and get your work done faster. This will let you have all of your personal hours to yourself, without having to work overtime. Use digital planner tools and calendar tools to help keep track of your work.

Take Regular Breaks

If you want to avoid burnout while working, you should take frequent breaks throughout the day. If you work for an hour, take five or ten minutes to have a snack or listen to some music. You can use your breaks to go for a quick walk or engage in a hobby that helps you recharge. One easy way to not forget your breaks is to set an alarm or reminder on your computer.

Avoid Multitasking

Although you may feel that multitasking helps you get more things done at the same time, it can be quite counterproductive. When you keep going back and forth between tasks, you lose efficiency. Also, you might not be able to divide your attention equally among multiple tasks simultaneously, leading to poor-quality work.

Prioritize Self-Care

It is normal to forget to take care of yourself when working remotely. Self-care comes in many forms. Simply put, you can choose to get a good night’s sleep, eat healthier meals, and devote time to regular exercise sessions to take care of your physical health. Activities like mindfulness exercises and meditation will help you boost your mental and spiritual well-being.

Communicate with Your Manager

Communicating with your manager is something you must do every day. Even if you are capable of carrying out your workload without consulting your manager every day, taking the time to maintain communication with your manager will be beneficial for you. If you are struggling with a too-heavy workload or a particularly difficult project, talking to your manager about it will help you both find a solution.

Take Time Off

One thing that happens when you work from home is that you forget to take time off from work. Since you are always home, you will get your personal errands done regularly, eliminating the need for a day off from work. However, it is important to use your PTO for vacations and mental health days when working from home.