Work-Life Balance in the Age of Remote Work

Some are really struggling with working remotely during the pandemic. The line separating work from personal life has not only been blurred; in most cases it’s been obliterated.

The challenge stems from having a full house, all the time, simultaneously.

Why not RE-INVISION the “work from anywhere” mentality, intentionally transforming it to MANAGING MY DAY. Let’s face it, without intentional structure consisting of key tools, successful work-life balance is unattainable. Trust me as a fitness professional, writer, single mom with two dogs, the struggle is REAL.

Here are a few simple things you can do to calm the mind to get in the Flow of your day.

1. Create a Workspace

• Dedicate a workspace (pay attention to noise levels and proximity to distractions).

*Watch the temptation to “make do,” ultimately impacting your ability to perform.

2. Create a Schedule & Identify CLEAR Boundaries

• Create a Schedule and Set Boundaries (work hours have a beginning and an end).

• Schedule Your Breaks in your calendar (10-15-minute/hour, consisting of movement).

3. Reduce Distractions

• Clearly define business hours to family / room mates – closed door during designated hours.

• Eliminate temptations and distractions (close additional computer tabs; keep a pad of paper nearby for extraneous thoughts).

4. Develop a Daily Ritual

• Create a ritual to mark the start and the end of your workday (a cup of tea reviewing today’s To Dos).

• Create tomorrow’s to-do list before calling it a day TODAY.

5. Utilize Tools

• One central calendar for both personal and business (colour coat) use (specialized apps).

• Implement time blocking (working in 15, 20, or 25-minute blocks maintains focus).

6. Plan Interaction

• Maintain colleague connections (“Arrive” to calls early to catch up).

• Maintain a satisfying social life (schedule virtual happy hours with friends and family).

7. Get Your Family on Board

• You might not think that getting your family to agree to the idea of you working from home is a big deal, but it is. It’s up to you to ensure that everyone learns to respect your schedule by you respecting it first.

• Manage expectations (just because you’re home doesn’t mean you’re not working).

8. Don’t Be Afraid to Disconnect

• Working remotely, we find ourselves distracted by the outside world. Don’t be afraid to disconnect when you need to focus and produce (turn off all notifications).

• Don’t check email first thing in the morning.

* Instead, tackle one thing on your to-do list first, and then check emails.

The same applies for your personal life. Prioritize yourself, aka self-care. This is can look like many different things to many people however the simple fact remains you need to release (your day), relax, heal, and revive for what comes next. No one else will do it for you. //