There comes a point in the work from home experience when we begin to question whether having a work-life balance is something that's actually possible. There has been so much buzz within the past year regarding the importance of a work-life balance and how it's the secret to productivity, but when your home is now your office and your office is now in your home, the lines are often blurred. So, how does one begin to separate the two?
As a brand that has always operated remotely, we’ve had to put extra effort into separating work from home life and balancing the two. It hasn’t always been the easiest but if we’ve learned anything, it's been that the effort is worth it. Being able to segment areas within your life allows you to put adequate attention and effort into each. You can continue to be present and experience all that your life has to offer while still being a valuable employee and ridding yourself of the guilt of letting work consume it all. We’re sharing some of the most valuable lessons and tips that we’ve leaned on throughout our journey of finding balance!
Talk to Others: There’s this stigma that if you are struggling, especially with work, you have to struggle alone. And we have found this to be far from true. If feeling stressed or overwhelmed, don’t try to conquer it all by yourself. Reach out to colleagues or bosses to express your concern and come up with a game plan moving forward. If you find yourself in an unsupportive workplace that won’t offer a minute to listen, gain the insight of those outside of work. Hearing the insight and perspective of others can be very helpful to understand the changes that you may need to make.
Change your environment: It is very beneficial to your mental health to be able to separate a work space and a living space. It is recommended to avoid doing work in bed or in your bedroom and to create a designated space. Take advantage of areas outside your home that you can go to do work such as a library, a park or even in your backyard. Experiencing a change of scenery can boost morale and affect your overall productivity.
Utilize your breaks: When taking breaks, make the most out of them. Use them as an opportunity to get out of your house to take a walk, play with your pup or spend time with loved ones. You can also use this time to make a delicious lunch or get a quick workout in. Taking a break to fully immerse yourself in a relaxing activity is a great way to give your brain a break and recharge for the rest of the work day.
Set boundaries: Set boundaries with co-workers, bosses and clients, letting them know the specific hours of when you will be available and responsive, and emphasizing that you will not be responsive during times that fall outside of those hours. Set boundaries with family members or even pets that may distract you from working and slow your progress. Get extra help, such as a babysitter, dog walker, or even intricate toys and activities to help keep those around you busy and allow you to work productively.
Set timers & hold yourself accountable: Setting a timer to alert you of when it's break time and when it's the end of the day can help ensure that you don’t slip into the habit of working over your hours. This will help to make sure that you are adequately allotting time to the various aspects of your life, and that work doesn’t take over.
Create something to look forward to everyday: Working from home can allow the stress that builds from work to overflow into your environment. We’ve found that incorporating things into each day that excite you, really helps to boost morale. Whether it's making a delicious cup of coffee every morning, going for a walk after work or scheduling a dinner with friends, it’s important to include things that you look forward to within your daily life.
This stigma of “the grind” and “always hustling” has slowly seeped into the workplace. It is easy to fall into pressuring yourself to work more and put work before all else. Working from home has magnified this stigma, and can make the separation between work and home non-existent. Overworking can often lead to stress, hostility and often resentment of your job.We’re here to remind you that not only is taking time to enjoy life important, but it will reflect in your work.
