Due to a dramatic rise in remote work and an increasing dependency on technology, work and life are more intertwined than ever before. Remote workers lack the same physical separation of time and space as they would have in an office.
No morning commute for you as you shuffle to your desk and get into your work mindset which may lead to you missing your lunch break. Or maybe it’s the opposite and you’re working from home with roommates, or without childcare, and it’s almost impossible to focus. The pandemic has also disproportionately impacted women who are 3x more likely than men to shoulder additional duties such as remote learning or extended family care.
It’s normal to feel stressed amid all the distractions and tension—you’re not the only one! National statistics show that a growing number of employees are feeling increased work-life stress and need new strategies to improve their work-life relationships.
Create Better Boundaries
To top it off, many remote workers are clocking in more hours than usual. A survey conducted in April 2020 revealed that workers new to the remote world are adding 3.13 hours per day to their workload.
Remote work allows for greater flexibility in schedules and the lives of workers around the world. Unfortunately, many of us struggle to disconnect from work, step away from our screen, and set a clear boundary between our careers and personal life.
Setting Healthy Work-Life Boundaries
1) Create a Dedicated Workspace
If you don’t have a dedicated workspace, your entire home could end up becoming the workspace. Of course, not everyone has the space for a dedicated work area, so even just carving out a section of your dining room table or portion of your living room can help organize and declutter.
2) Set Your Hours
It’s important to simulate a start and end to your workday. Otherwise, you’ll realize that your work has started bleeding into your home life. Make sure you schedule a lunch break and plan your work around it—feeding yourself is non-negotiable.
3) Take Your Days Off Seriously
When your home doubles as your office, it’s easy to pick up your phone and check your work email on the weekend, or on a day off. But taking time off to recharge can do more for your mental health than you realize.
If you would like more information on how to set your own work-life boundaries, subscribe to my newsletter to transform your life. Or get in touch with me if you need advice on how to tap into your passion and unleash your true potential.