11 Ways to Maintain a Work-Life Balance When Working Remotely

Working remotely is an increasingly viable option for many professionals in the United States. An estimated 70% of the global workforce works at least one day a week from a remote location, and it's easy to see why. 

Remote work allows you to form your schedule around your life. You can cut the commute out of your day and spend more time at home, but it can sometimes make maintaining a work-life balance difficult. 

There is always a question of how to work from home and keep your balance in life. Well, to ensure you are keeping a healthy and productive work-life balance, follow these eleven tips when working from home.

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Make A Schedule

Just like when you are working from an office, you should create a consistent schedule of work hours and off-work hours.

In a survey conducted by ADP in 2021, it was found that remote employees put in an average of 9.4 unpaid overtime hours each week. 

If you find that you are regularly working outside your schedule, adjust your hours to better fit your work day so you won’t have to work long hours each day.

Communicate with Your Team

Now that you have a daily schedule in place, you should consistently notify your team members of your work hours. If you use a messaging service like Workmates to communicate, remember to set your status during work hours. 

You could also create an online calendar to track the hours of the whole team. This is especially helpful when your team members are spread out over several time zones. An online directory can also help organize your co-workers’ contact information if you work with a large team. 

Even when you work from home, it's essential to keep yourself engaged, and by staying in contact with your fellow teammates, you can work more cohesively as a group.

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Create a space for work only

When you work remotely, it's tempting to set up your office anywhere in your house. Some days you might work from the couch and other days from your kitchen counter. While this might seem like a perfect setup, it can create a distraction and poor work-life balance.

Instead, tailor the workspace to your needs, set up boundaries, and only allow yourself to do work in that space. Avoid distractions and prevent your work from spilling into your time off by limiting where and when you can do business.

Manage Finances Online

With more time at home, you might find it hard to run errands during the day. It can be even harder if you are working off-hours. 

If you typically visit your local bank once or twice a week, consider removing this chore from your list and finding an online bank that works for you. Simply deposit paper checks from home by using your smartphone’s camera to upload a picture to the bank’s app. Plus, you can track your budget and manage your money anytime without having to interrupt your work day.

Enjoy After Work

Working remotely can sometimes make it hard to step away from the office. Make it easier by finding hobbies you are passionate about. It is important to enjoy your after-work time because days can feel repetitive if you don't have something to break up the work week. Think about joining a gym, taking up painting, or even just getting out of the house for some fresh air. You could even host a weekly game night with family and friends to get some much-needed social time. Finding a hobby not only ensures a proper work-life balance but can also help you learn something new in your personal life.

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Eat Proper Meals

Sometimes it can be hard to find the time to eat when work gets hectic. To make the most of your work day, you should be eating nutritionally balanced meals throughout the day. If you are prone to skipping meals, you could keep some healthy snacks close by to avoid a blood sugar crash and feeling cranky.

If you don't take care of yourself, you could find it hard to focus on your work and get tasks done. Self-care can also promote a healthy work-life balance by allowing you more time for yourself.

Get Ready for Work

If you don't have to worry about commuting, you might feel like hitting the snooze button and sleeping in, but this won't help you be a productive employee. In the morning, get yourself ready as if you are heading to the office. Wake up early, take a shower, get dressed, eat a hearty breakfast, and set clear goals for that day. Creating a morning routine will help get you in the proper mindset for remote work life.

Take Timed Breaks

When work is getting stressful, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and exhausted. To protect your mental health and work-life balance, you should schedule breaks and commit to taking them throughout the day. 

Your breaks don’t have to be lengthy amounts of time, but they should involve getting up from your desk and moving around. Pause work and get a fresh cup of coffee from the kitchen or stand up to do some stretches.

 Either way, your breaks should give you time to decompress and keep your work-life balance proportional.

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Get Daily Exercise

Working at a desk all day is hard on your mind and body. To promote a healthy work-life balance, you should be exercising daily. If you don't have time to head to the gym, do a simple activity like taking your dog for a walk, or doing a quick yoga routine. 

Studies have shown that as little as 15 minutes a day can help improve concentration, memory, and creativity. Daily exercise can also help with reducing burnout and stress.

Organize Your Workspace

Even with a dedicated workspace, you can still get distracted by clutter. If you find yourself with a messy desk, take time each morning or night to clean up your office. Organize your papers and put away any office supplies that are sitting out. You can even consider going entirely paperless to help save storage space. 

Try a Change of Scenery

Occasionally, you might find yourself hitting a wall. While working remotely can be beneficial, you might find it hard to work creatively. If this is the case, try changing up where you work remotely once in a while. 

A new environment can help break up the monotony of remote work from home while feeding your social side. Think about getting some work done at a local cafe with free wifi, or using a coworking space to find fellow professionals. Coworking spaces can also be great areas for video calls or conferences when your home may not be a quiet place. 

Conclusion

With more companies offering remote jobs, the ability to work from home has become easier than ever. Remote employees work harder and happier than traditional staff. 

Engagement among remote workers is also higher than ever with new technology that allows for instant messaging, employee recognition platforms, video conferencing, and online collaboration.

If you are lucky enough to work remotely, it doesn't mean you have to sacrifice a healthy work-life balance. You can still enjoy the benefits of working at home while minimizing the disadvantages. By keeping yourself accountable to the boundaries you set, you can create a happy work and home life.

To learn even more about managing remote teams and keeping employees working at home highly engaged, download our ebook now.

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Author Bio:

This article is written by a marketing team member at HR Cloud. HR Cloud is a leading provider of proven HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee communications & engagement, and rewards & recognition. Our user-friendly software increases employee productivity, delivers time and cost savings, and minimizes compliance risk.