Remote workers have become more and more common over the last few years, mostly due to COVID-19. As businesses were forced to move online and protect employee health, remote work became a viable option. Many businesses even found that it increased company productivity and employee morale. If you’re a remote worker, however, you may have found it difficult to “unplug” from work. Since you’re likely working from your home, it can be difficult to feel like you’ve ever truly clocked out. The temptation to check emails after hours or separate yourself for family time can be difficult challenges to deal with. Developing a work/life balance is an important key to maintaining both a healthy home life as well as a professional one.
Here are a few tips to help keep your work and life balanced as a remote worker so you can give yourself 100% to both. Here’s what you need to know about remote workers’ work/life balance.
Why is work/life balance important?
Before looking at how to maintain a healthy balance between work and life as a remote worker, it’s important to understand why it’s necessary and what happens when you don’t maintain it.
When you fail to maintain a good balance, it will negatively impact your health and happiness. You will become more stressed as you feel you have no control over your own life and schedule. You won’t be able to pull away from work, and you will always feel as though you’re at the office. Although working remotely is an excellent way to feel a sense of freedom, you must work to develop boundaries and balance, or it will lead to further stress. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can do this.
Work/Life Balance as a Remote Worker
When it comes to setting a balance between work and life, it’s necessary to give proper attention to both. Here are some ways to keep your work life and your personal life separate.
1. Set a schedule.
Working from home isn’t a license to be lazy or slack off. As tempting as it might be to sleep in and work whenever you feel motivated, it’s important to set a schedule and hold yourself to it. Making yourself get up at a certain time and scheduling specific work hours for yourself will help you get into the right mindset when you need to be productive.
Get ready for work the same way you would as if you were going into the office. Set boundaries so that people can only reach you when you’re “at work.” Don’t reply to work-related messages during your personal time. It’s okay and important to set boundaries and stick to a schedule.
2. Develop your social life.
Work shouldn’t be the only thing you focus on. Make sure you schedule things into your week that are solely related to your personal life. Hanging out with non-work friends or finding a hobby are great ways to keep your mind off work while developing your personal life.
3. Create a designated workspace.
One of the biggest ways to create a balance between your work and personal life is to make a designated workspace. Having a space solely for work will help you focus and be free from distractions. Then, when you’re done working for the day, you can leave your workspace and feel as though you’ve detached from work for the day. Good workspaces include an in-home office, a coffee shop, or outdoors so you can get some fresh air.
We Can Help!
Work Health Solutions has made it their mission to help provide necessary healthcare for those who need it, especially in the working environment. We understand the difficulty of taking care of employees in the workplace, and if you’re planning to conduct occupational health spirometry testing, contact us today to help get it done efficiently.
