Working From Home? Here’s 5 Tips For Managing A Better “Work-Life” Balance
Well 2020 has Definitely been a difficult start to the year for all of us, its had and is having a massive impact on people’s lives in a number of Different ways.
most of us are working from Home for the Foreseeable future or have Certainly been working from home for a number of weeks Already and that in its self can Come with its own set of challenges!
working from home Definitely can have its benefits just like it can have its downsides, so it’s even more important to find the right “work-life” balance for you.
if you do feel like you’re struggling to balance all those moving parts, feeling so Overwhelmed with your Workload Which is making you feel unproductive and stressed-out, you’re not on your own feeling that way. so many of us feel the same, so i wanted to Share some tips with you which have really helped me over the years in creating the right balance between work and home.
1. PLAN YOUR DAY AHEAD OF TIME
planning ahead of time can ease stress and anxiety. Of course plans can change, like last minute requests for work, deadlines being brought forward but the more you can plan your routine ahead of time, the more you can build in flexibility.
PLAN YOUR START AND FINISH TIMES
· What time are you going to start and finish work? Just like when you’re in the office, have a start and finish time.
FLEXIBLE WORKING HOURS
· Are you managing childcare while trying to work? Why not speak to your employer and ask if you can have flexible working hours to support your childcare needs, maybe starting earlier to finish earlier or vise versa, to ease the pressure of trying to manage both at the same time.
DON’T PLAN BACK TO BACK MEETINGS
· Give yourself breathing space in between meetings, to help you stay focused on completing your daily tasks.
TIP – Once you hit that finish time, Turn off your work laptop and phone until you start again the next day!
2. CREATE A GOOD WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Not everyone has the luxury of a designated office room at home but it’s just as important to stop and assess what you do have at home, to create a good working environment for yourself.
FIND A SPACE
· Have a look around your home to find the most comfortable spot for you to work in. If you can find a quiet space away from distraction, do that.
· De-clutter and make a tidy area for yourself. Can you add any little finishing touches, maybe a plant?
CREATE LIGHT
· Try not to sit in a dark room, bright lights can boost our moods and increase productivity levels. So see if you can sit by a window or can you create light in the area you want to work in?
CHECK YOUR SEATED POSITION
· Is your chair comfortable, is your screen at the right height? Is the room temperature right for you? There are so many benefits of a good posture, including fewer headaches and increased energy levels, so don’t forget this step!
3. TAKE REGULAR BREAKS
Do you Forget to take a break? Always thinking, “I’ll just finish this first or I’ll just do that”, “I’ll take a break in a minute” and then before you know it…1, 2, 3 hours later…you’re still sat at your laptop and half the day has past! Yep I’ve been there, I know how you’re feeling! So Let’s change that.
PLAN IN REGULAR BREAKS
· plan regular breaks in your diary in between meetings. block them out just like you would a meeting so people know your unavailable. Take the time to get some Fresh air and go for walk, do some light Stretches or try meditation. Find something which works for you and helps you relax.
PLAN IN YOUR LUNCH TIME
· Same as planning your breaks. plan in your lunch, block the time out in your diary and don’t feel bad about it! You’re allowed to have your lunch break.
TIP– Why not have a virtual lunch break with a friend or colleague?
TAKE A BREAK FROM TECHNOLOGY
· When you’re on your well-earned break time, don’t check emails, don’t check social media – Just try and disconnect for 5, 10, 15 minutes.
TIP – Hit that “do not disturb” button and disconnect for a break.
4. SET BOUNDARIES
This is so important for both at home and at work. Set out what you feel you can and can’t achieve in your current working environment. let people know your needs and what you feel your boundaries are.
SHARE YOUR WORK SCHEDULE
· Just like you might share your calendar at work, do the same at home. let people know when you’re available and unavailable.
DON’T OVER COMMIT YOURSELF
· Do you always fall foul of saying “Yes, I can do that!”, “Yes, I’ll squeeze it in!” Even when you don’t want to do it or it isn’t helping you in achieving your goals? By saying yes all the time you are only damaging yourself, your confidence, your self-esteem and the chances are it will make you feel worse afterwards when you start to regret saying yes in the first place! Your self-care is so important to you and others around you, so dig deep and find the courage to say no!
FOCUS ON YOUR GOAL
· Are your tasks in line with what you need to achieve? Struggling to juggle everything? Look at re-Prioritising your tasks, so you are focusing on what counts and is adding value.
TIP – Check out my coaching activities step by step guides to re-Prioritising your tasks.
5. TAKE TIME OFF
When was the last time you took a day off or a week off? Do you feel because you’re working at home you don’t feel right asking for some time off? Its so important to “Recharge your batteries”, do something you enjoy and forget about work.
BOOK SOME TIME OFF
· Take some timeout to look after yourself. Spend some time with the people you care about the most. Pamper or treat yourself, doesn’t have to be expensive just do something you enjoy.
TIP – Try and prevent “burning out” by reviewing your current situation - Ask yourself, Are you working too much and not taking time out to recover, to socialize or even enjoy your hobbies? If the answer is “Yes” Then its time to take a break!
