It’s incredibly important to have balance in our lives. And in this day and age, work-life balance is being discussed more and more. With the increase of burnout happening so often, it’s essential to work on your wellness and well being. When you work long hours, it can be really hard for you to make yourself a priority. And if you work from home, that can be even more difficult. As much as working from home can be a blessing, it does tend to blur the boundaries of work and play.
As a woman that works from home, you may find that you’re constantly blending your work and home life. You may work a little here, switch into mother mode, and then head right back into your business mindset again. And while that’s quite the talent to have, it’s also exhausting. And although choosing to work from home can be great for your family and many will be envious, it can drive you a little crazy at times. That's why it's incredibly important to find that balance. Let's take a look at how you can work from home without losing your sanity.
Ten Ways To Work From Home Without Losing Your Sanity
1. Set Working Hours
It’s easy to think that since you work from home, you can work whenever you want, since flexibility is one of the biggest benefits. But if you don't set specific work hours, then you have no work-life balance. Can you work during the hours when the kids are in school? How about during the evening, when the little ones are in bed and the house is quiet? The first step to working at home is to establish working hours that suit your lifestyle, and perhaps those of an employer or a client.
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2. Maximize Your Productivity
Once you have your work hours set, you’re going to want to do all you can to increase your productivity. If you can get more done in less time, you'll be able to shut off for the day at a reasonable hour, and enjoy that balance. But to do that, you need to master methods of productivity that will work for you. Make sure you're working in an organized, uncluttered space. Keep a to-do list and before you end each day make sure you have your tasks written and ready to go for the next day. And use helpful tech tools and online programs to help you get work done more efficiently.
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3. Create A Designated Work Space
From here, you'll need to carve out some kind of space to work from. It’s hard to get into ‘work mode’ when you’re on the sofa or dining room table. Instead, choose a spot to renovate, or even convert your garage into the ultimate she-shed, and add the right details to make the space more useable (see what Tucson Windows & Doors has to offer, for example). Make sure there's necessities like electricity and wifi and a landline phone, if needed.
4. Stay Organized
Once you have your home office space designated, you'll have to make sure that it's well stocked and well organized to maximize your productivity. A desk, comfortable desk chair and ample bookshelves are musts in any office. Add office equipment such as your computer, printer and fax machine. Add plants and artwork for ambiance. Remember, keep your office neat and tidy but be sure to add stylish, personal touches as well.
5. Hire Help
If you feel like you’re working too much, or too much of your time is being spent on mundane tasks, it’s time to get some help. Just because you’re working from home doesn't mean you have to do it all yourself. Hire an assistant to come in a few hours a week to help with accounting, filing, sorting and following up on emails. Or, hire experts in areas you’re perhaps not strong at, such as advertising and marketing.
6. Stick To A Schedule
Just because you work from home doesn't mean you are available. Elementary and middle school aged kids just love knowing mom is home, and will lean on her for forgotten lunches, rides to friends' houses or chatty phone calls between classes. Emergencies aside, you may have to put your foot down and let your fam know that between the hours of such and such, mom is at work and is simply unavailable to take calls.
7. Switch Off
The best way for you to establish any sort of work-life balance is to be sure that you’re switching off of work mode completely. Traditionally, you can leave the office at the end of the day and not have to return until the next day. When you're working from home, well, you are always at the office. Don’t let yourself get dragged into too much thought about work when you’re supposed to be enjoying your own time. Switching off in the evenings is so important to everyone around you.
8. Make The Most Of Down Time
Whether it's evenings or weekends, make the most of your downtime just like you would with any other job. Turn off your office light and shut the door. Read a book, take a bath, watch a movie. Spend time with friends and family. Make and keep social plans. My point? Stay away from your office and work related activities until the next workday, and enjoy your downtime.
9. Learn To Say No
When you're trying to build your business, it's easy to want to try and take on as much as you can, especially to stay profitable. But there are some clients that require more attention than what's contracted, and those clients can be exhausting. There's really nothing wrong with saying no to clients who drain you of your time and energy. It's extremely important to set boundaries with clients, and sometimes you'll just have to say no.
10. Stay Present
And finally, one of the best things that you can do for yourself, both while you’re working and when you’re not, is to stay in the present moment. If you’re always in your head, thinking and planning, or you’re on your devices scrolling through emails and social media accounts, then you’re not making the most of the time you have. But when you consciously aim to be mindful and live in the moment, you’ll be happier in life and be able to live more intentional too.
If you're working from home, we hope that you find the above advice useful. For more great info on how to make your home office work for you, check out this infographic from oka.com:
Infographic courtesy of oka.com
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