Balancing work and life in a work-from-home world
Working from home has its pros and cons. Since the pandemic caused many companies to go remote, employees everywhere have adapted to Zoom calls and home workstations and crating the dog when a staff meeting kicks in. We might miss the office camaraderie or the company cafeteria, yet there are plenty of perks to virtual work: comfy pants, television lunch breaks, flexibility to work anywhere at any time. But we run the risk of blurring the boundaries between home life and work life to the point where we never really feel productive in either space. Consider the following tips for establishing healthier boundaries between work and home.
1. Create clear start and end times to your workday. Before the pandemic, many of us enjoyed drive time to and from work, which gave us space to shift mental gears. In lieu of a commute, try establishing a small ritual to signal the start and end of your day. For example, begin each morning with coffee and a book, and wrap up each workday with a walk on the treadmill. These simple activities will create physical and mental bookends around your work schedule.
2. Unplug during non-work hours. This requires you to first determine what those “non-work hours” are. If you enjoy logging in to catch up on work late at night, that’s fine. But do set aside certain hours as untouchable, for example, between 5 and 9 p.m. each day. Then spend those hours disconnected from phones and email, and enjoy time with your family or pursuing non-work activities.
3. Add self-care to your schedule. Repeat after me: self-care is not selfish. It’s a necessary component in the life of a healthy, productive employee. If you burn out, you’ll be no good to anyone—not your boss, your coworkers, your family, or yourself. So, ensure you’ll take care of yourself by scheduling self-care into your week and treating those appointments as non-negotiable. Maybe for you that means a massage, a movie, or an hour sipping wine with a friend. Or it can be as simple as planning ahead for a nap or a walk around the neighborhood.
4. Build a community. Finally, remember as human beings we were made to crave relationships. Although we may not be sharing space with our colleagues at the moment, we can still build a community of like-minded people to support and encourage us. Women’s Leadership Academy is here to help you feel part of something bigger—a group of women navigating their career ambitions together, building off of each other’s experiences to gain confidence and feel part of a community.
By creating healthy boundaries, caring for yourself, and connecting with peers outside of work, you can thrive in today’s challenging environment and continue growing toward your goals.
Let’s do it together. Visit us online at https://www.newsagestrategies.com/wla for more information on Women’s Leadership Academy. We cannot wait to welcome you!