Working from home is a constant challenge for many. It’s an everyday battle with outside forces or with the self. When everyone was working in an office, it gave structure to our days while the physical manifestation of a proper workplace created clear boundaries from our home lives. 

Due to the pandemic rendering offices non-essential and giving rise to work-from-home’s popularity, what happened was either people’s work habits bled into their home life or their home habits prevented them from being as productive as they can be.

Even so, there’s several reasons why more people prefer remote work over a return to the office. People like the flexibility it gives them while studies have shown that it also increases productivity, compared to when working in an office. The benefits hugely outweigh the disadvantages, which means people have come up with ways to keep their work and home life balanced. The trick is in keeping habits consistent and being proactive about doing so. Let’s discuss this more down below.

Why keep home and work life separate

First, let’s explore why it’s important to keep work and home life apart. Remote work isn’t the first time where these two things would sometimes affect one another. When office-goers used to bring work home, it already affected their personal time. For example, not having the time to cook dinner would mean ordering in, which can be unhealthy if it becomes a habit. Or they would not have time for their families, which can affect their relationships with them. Moreover, when they have problems at home, it would affect their concentration and performance at the workplace too.

However, working from home every single day further blurs the lines. What used to be occasional occurrences can easily start to happen more and more often. If weak points and bad habits aren’t recognized and discipline isn’t exercised, it can become a never-ending cycle and will affect the quality of both work and life.

Benefits of a separate work and home life

• Better overall health

When work and home life overlap, it can cause an increase in our stress levels. Stress has profound effects on the human body and can exacerbate already existing conditions some may have. Stress also affects mental health which can not only affect work performance but personal relationships as well.

• Better quality of life and work

Dividing attention between work and personal life can reduce the quality of both. Drawing boundaries between the two sets one up for success at work and more meaningful relationships or more enjoyable down time.

• Better sense of self and enjoyment of work

Even when one doesn’t want to be mixing up work and home life, sometimes it can be out of their control. Some managers and bosses demand responses or tasks even after work hours, and some employees might think that being available can lead to recognition and promotions. But all that does is tell employers that you are willing to take their calls, emails, etc. beyond work hours and that you will answer. As this happens more often, employees may lose their confidence, will start to find work less and less enjoyable, and experience burnout.

Bad habits to have when working from home

It’s easy to fall into some bad habits when working in the comforts of home. Here are a few to steer clear of:

• Making your schedule too flexible

Remote work is popular because it allows a certain flexibility in one’s schedule. For some people, this works just fine. However, there’s such a thing as having a too-flexible schedule. For example, taking too many breaks when you feel like it and promising to make up for it at later hours, or allowing to be distracted during work hours. It is very easy to fall prey to these, especially since there’s no one from work to see it or check up on it.

• Letting non-work things invade the work space

Having a dedicated work space at home helps build those boundaries needed in order to be productive at work and to turn off when it’s over. In this space, the focus should only be work. Breaks, eating, watching a show, or doing anything else non-work related in the dedicated workspace only serves to distract from doing actual work in the future.

• Being too tough on oneself

‘Off’ days are completely normal and everyone has them. It’s important to be kind to oneself and recognize that a bad day or a couple of bad days doesn’t mean one is a bad employee. Finding out the reason behind off days and learning to take the appropriate steps when they happen help to lessen their occurrence or to handle them better.

How to separate home and work life

• Consistency is key

As mentioned, a dedicated workspace and set work schedule helps give structure to a work-from-home set up. But these are only as effective as how consistent one is in implementing them every day.

• Setting boundaries

This applies to both people at work and in personal life. Sometimes old habits just die hard and employers need reminding when they are overstepping. Same goes for the people at home who are used to interacting with anyone else who is home. Clear boundaries let employers and family members know their place during appropriate times. 

• Being proactive

No one knows an employee’s schedule, work habits, and limits better than themselves. Knowledge of these is like having the tools to set one up for success. Using this knowledge can help create a schedule that makes the most sense, a routine that eliminates all distractions and promotes productivity, and a recognition of when it’s getting to be too much. This shows employers a desire for success and it will be appreciated. 

Partner with an agency that promotes work-life balance

Ready to take on a virtual work set up? Whatever role you have in mind, Remote Workmate will help you be successful. We match you with the most well-suited clients and stay on top of the work relationship for the entire duration that you are working with us. This helps make communication easy and both client and Workmate more relaxed for a stress-free working environment.