Working from home comes with some great benefits but it can also be challenging to find a work-life balance that allows you to be productive while at the same time juggling family life.
The stress of being pulled in too many directions at home can quickly lead to burnout, making you long for those days when you were working at the office. The good news is that with so many more women working from home during the pandemic there’s more focus than ever on balancing work with your home life.
Here are just a few of the things that you can do to find a great work-life balance when you’re working remotely from home:
1.Stay Organized
Declutter and put things in order. The more organized you are when it comes to both work and home the more success you’ll have at keeping everything running smoothly.
2. Designate Office Space
Designate a separate area in your home for your office. It may sound like a great idea to work on your dining room table but not only is this practice bad for your back and neck it may be difficult for you to concentrate on work with family life going on around you.
3. Comfort and Design
Create a work-from-home office that’s based on comfort and good design. Try to set up your workspace in an area of your home that receives a lot of natural light. Not only does bright light make you feel good and boost your mood it also plays a big role in the production of melatonin and keeps your circadian rhythm in balance.
4. Utilize Your Green Thumb
Having household plants around you has a number of benefits:
- Lower your stress.
- Increase productivity.
- Make your workspace more appealing.
- Clean and purify indoor air.
5. Office With a View
When possible, face your desk so you can look outside as you work. You’ll feel more connected to the outside world instead of cooped up in your home all day. If a window isn’t an option you can still brighten up your work area by displaying family holiday photos or hanging cheerful paintings.
6. Sounds of Nature
Another great way to lower your stress and make the most of working from home is by bringing the sounds of nature into your home office. Find a playlist of nature sounds, such as birds chirping or the sound of rain. Or put on your headphones and listen to white noise or your favorite music to drown out household distractions.
7. Prepare For The Unexpected
A home office means that while you’re focused on working, family life is going on around you. Expect that things won’t always go according to plan. If you acknowledge that you’ll have to accept some distractions you’ll feel less frustrated when they happen.
8. Up the Communication
You’ve probably found that communicating remotely with your co-workers has taken some getting used to. Keep that communication going strong with your family. Schedule family meetings and encourage everyone to be open about their feelings and what they need.
9. Mental and Physical Self-Care
When you’re working from home it’s easy to forget about taking breaks. Set reminders to get up away from your desk every couple of hours. Keep the self-care going into after-work hours. You’ll be more relaxed and keep stress under control by taking a hot bath or a 30-minute walk.
10. Parenting While Working At Home
Working remotely may mean that your kids are home at the same time and during the pandemic, this is more the case for many families. Set guidelines and rules for your kids to follow so you can still get work completed. It’s also helpful to schedule time for meetings to find out how your children are feeling and how you can offer support.
For even more smart tips to balance your work and home life, take at look at this infographic on how to create a peaceful and productive space (provided by Rocket Mortgage):
