The coronavirus pandemic has completely changed the corporate landscape. Many companies have transitioned to having a majority of their employees work from home. As a result, long commutes, office lunches, and face-to-face meetings could be a thing of the past.
Even when the pandemic eventually subsides, working remotely may be here to stay. According to a recent survey, three-quarters of adults who are able to work remotely would like to continue doing so at least one day a week after the pandemic is under control.
While working from home has its advantages (e.g., no commuting costs, more flexibility), it also comes with certain challenges (e.g., lack of home office space, dealing with distractions at home). Often these challenges can make it difficult to have a healthy work/life balance. That’s why it’s important to take steps to help avoid burnout while working at home.
Here are some tips to help you stay on track.
1. Carve out a dedicated workspace. Ideally, your work-from-home setup should be located where you can avoid interruptions or distractions. If you don’t have a spare room to use for your workspace, try carving out an area for your “office” wherever you can — even a dining room table or a desk in the corner of your bedroom can work.
2. Stick to a routine. Just because you aren’t going into an actual office each day doesn’t mean you should change your normal workday routine. Keeping a set schedule can help you stay focused and allow you to disconnect and wind down once the workday has come to an end.
It can take time to adjust to working from home, but you will eventually fall into a routine that works best for you and allows you to maintain a healthy work/life balance.
3. Break up the day. It’s easy to forget to take breaks when your workspace is in your home. Going for a short walk, running a quick errand during lunch, and standing up to stretch once in a while will help you recharge and decompress throughout the day.
4. Stay connected. Working from home means you have less opportunity to interact regularly with your co-workers, which can feel isolating. That’s why it is important to stay connected by using the technological resources that are available to you (e.g., video conferencing, instant messaging).
