How to achieve work-life balance when working from home

June 04, 2020

How to achieve work-life balance when working from home

Sure, we’ve all heard of how digital nomads are living the dream working from anywhere in the world, including from their own beds wearing comfy pyjamas. Praised as one of the best ways to achieve work-life balance, remote working can, however, be challenging and tricky as boundaries between work and personal life tend to blur whether you’re working from your couch or from a swimming pool in Bali. We’ve listed some tips below to help you achieve your goals, unwind and relax, all from the same space:

Leave the pyjamas in your bedroom: 

Would you go to the office wearing pyjamas? Let’s be honest, we’ve all thought about it at least once in our life but most of us, probably, never did it. Why not? because it’s not professional and it tells your colleagues or clients that you’re not taking your work seriously. I hear you say; ‘’but if I am working from home nobody knows I am wearing pyjamas!’’. Well, your brain knows. Wearing a bedtime outfit during working hours will make your brain think it’s bedtime and fuzz out. However, it’s not bedtime yet! If anything, it’s ‘’get things done’’ time. Instead, opt for a comfortable WFH outfit you like and which makes you feel confident and motivated. It can be anything from slipper heels to printed jogging bottoms and baggy blazers. Not only will getting ready and wearing stylish comfortable clothes make you feel good (we don’t just dress for others), but it will also give you an opportunity for some me-time. It’ll really help you achieve this work-life balance you deserve by clearly separating your work time from your own time even though you’re physically in the same place. 

Transition into your working day:

Jumping from your bed to your desk doesn’t allow enough time for your brain to sink into work mode. Once you’re ready, prepare a cup of coffee, stretch, meditate for 10 minutes so that you can gradually transition into your working day and be in the right mindset to focus, achieve and become unstoppable. The same thing applies at the end of the day. Prepare a cup of tea or a glass of wine, switch the playlist to a more relaxing one, review the work achieved, be kind to yourself and turn off the laptop. Time to live your best life!

• Prepare a short daily to-do list: 

The idea is not to list 45 tasks that you’ll never be able to achieve in one day... unless you work until 2 am! We are talking about having a life again here after all ;) List three or four priority tasks you think you can achieve in one working day, things that are critical to your job and need to be done quickly. The rest can wait because it’s not a priority and there aren’t enough hours in a day for you to get through these 45 tasks. Once you’ve listed priority tasks, you’ll free your brain from constantly rehearsing important things that need to be done and you’ll also have a clear plan of action for the day. Nothing more empowering! You’ll then be able to focus on getting these done before 5 pm. You’ll get to efficiently achieve your tasks without stressing and spend quality time with your loved ones. Who said you can’t have your cake and eat it?

Create a designated working space: 

This is extremely important if you’re trying to achieve a work-life balance. Ideally, you want your bedroom to be your relaxing sanctuary and your comfy couch to be used to watch your favourite shows or to drink your favourite wine with your friends. Having stressful contract negotiations from your bedroom or discussing the latest regulations in your industry from your couch can sometimes influence your brain into associating your sleeping, relaxing or entertaining space with stress and negativity. Instead, try and establish a desk in a different room or in a corner of the room, place a few plants around you to try and separate spaces then only focus on work in this dedicated area.

Take better breaks:

It might surprise you but if you want to be more efficient during your working hours and get things done properly by 5 pm, you need to take breaks! But not a procrastinating break (that’d be too much fun), a productive break. Indeed, lots of studies have shown that people taking up to five short breaks a day are, overall, more productive. Smart breaks include for instance walking, stretching or enjoying a snack and a glass of water away from your desk and screen. Leave your phone behind for better results ;)

Switch off

Let your colleagues or clients know when your working hours are and then when the day is over turn off your laptop and your work phone. Practice mindfulness for a few minutes. Focus on your breathing and be aware of the sounds around you (make sure you’ve turned off your phone when you do). If you’re using your own phone as a work phone, turn off notifications as soon as you’ve finished your day. Enjoy the time with your loved ones and minimise work chat to allow your brain to rest and recharge.

We hope this article has provided you with some great inspiration to help you achieve the work-life balance you deserve.

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