How To Manage Work-life Balance as a Remote Employee

Remote work is helpful for several reasons. It allows you to manage your schedule and eliminates the need for commuting to the office, allowing you to be around your family members and spend quality time with your loved ones.

Additionally, many remote employees get benefits like flexible hours, which lets them plan their days according to their preferences. It’s also easier to set up your workstation at home based on your likes and dislikes.

On the flip side, remote work can feel overwhelming, especially if you lose track of time while tackling items on your checklist. You may find yourself juggling multiple tasks and deadlines, struggling to finish on time, and unable to log off when it’s time to call it a day.

However, all is not lost. Take a look at our top five suggestions to help you establish a better work-life balance as a remote employee.

Reduce Distractions

While working from home can feel like a blessing on most days, there are times when you find yourself trying hard to stay focused.

Working from home can mean you have many distractions to deal with such as kids, pets, television, and more. This can make it tricky for you to meet your deadlines on time and forces you to work longer hours than necessary

The best thing to do is to set up a private workstation and ensure you’re not disturbed when you’re busy with meetings or juggling multiple tasks. Make your boundaries clear and come up with solutions: can you take turns with your partner to look after the kids when they’re at home? Plan ahead to ensure your pet is well-fed and comfortable without you throughout the day.

On days when your schedule is packed with multiple items on your to-do list, ask your partner or a friend to help out with personal tasks.

Plan Your Day

Don’t underestimate the power of having a solid routine that allows you to plan to avoid any nasty surprises. Stick to a schedule that works for you and figure out how much time you need to take care of personal tasks.

For example, you could start your day with a workout and a refreshing shower before eating a balanced, nutritious breakfast and starting your workday. It also helps to meal prep and ensure you have everything you need to stay energetic and focused at work.

This could mean preparing a protein-rich smoothie in advance to help you escape that mid-afternoon slump. Take lunch breaks as planned to avoid feeling burned out or overwhelmed. Breaks will help you unwind and stay energized for the rest of your day.

Pay Attention to Your Well-Being

Take short breaks at work. Meditate for five minutes before getting back to your day, and take deep breaths when you feel anxious or edgy. Taking on too much work without spending time on your well-being is a bad idea. Prioritize your mental health and well-being and do things that make you happy. Plan dinner outings with your best friends, journal at the end of a long day to reduce stress, watch movies, and read new books.

On that note, don’t fall into the trap of working so hard you forget to set aside some time for yourself and your personal goals outside of work.

Set Realistic Expectations

Remote work has made it possible for many of us to work with colleagues and clients from different parts of the world. This is both good and bad. While it allows us to work with a diverse team and expand our horizons, remote work across different time zones presents unique challenges.

For instance, finding the right balance is essential while juggling multiple time zones to schedule meetings with colleagues and clients. Setting realistic expectations and having an open and honest conversation with your teammates while arranging virtual meetings is crucial. If you push yourself too hard and consistently attend meetings late at night or early in the morning, you may feel worn out and sleep-deprived. Find the right balance and look at realistic options that work for everyone.

Avoid Procrastinating

It can become easy to get distracted when you’re working from home and don’t have an office environment to motivate or inspire you. Work in 30-minute sprints if it works for you – tackle tasks for half an hour before taking a break for five minutes before diving into work-related tasks.

Practice mindfulness and stay organized. It helps to jot down your tasks for the day before you begin work, so you know exactly where you’re at and what you need to do to accomplish your goals.

The key to striking a balance between remote work and your personal life is to plan and prioritize your personal and professional goals in a feasible manner. You don’t want to feel overwhelmed or burned out. Aim to feel inspired and motivated each day instead.

WRITTEN BY: BOSHIKA GUPTA