Remote Work - Are We Really Balancing It All?

Work-life balance has been a hot topic for quite some time now. Especially since employers have been allowing employees to work remotely from home. Prior to 2020, remote work was very possible but seldom done. There were many people that lost their jobs due to businesses closing and/or downsizing so remote work was and still is (to some) considered a privilege.

When you think of remote work as it relates to work-life balance, for some it may mean that you can work on that report while making dinner. On their lunch hour they can go to the gym, grab some groceries or pick the kiddos up from school. Let’s not forget also saving money on childcare and commuting expenses.

On the flip side of things, depending on the demand of the job, working from home can be just as stressful as being in the office. Some may have a hard time adjusting because they enjoy the “structure” of having a set time to be at work, and a set time to be at home. How is that possible? Because some may feel as if there is no real cut off time. Think about those employees that tend to stay late and work late hours, they are now working 24/7 on top of trying to manage their home life. There is no such thing as “break” or “lunch” because they are working around the clock. At night, after everyone is sleeping, they can finally work on that report because no one was emailing you (hopefully), they don’t have to tend to the kids and no one was knocking on the door. Or maybe they wake up at 2:00 a.m. to do the report they forgot to submit before they signed out for the day.

No matter which way you look at it, working from home has its pros and cons just like everything else in life. Ultimately it’s up to you to enforce boundaries to create work-life balance no matter the circumstances.

Here are some ways we can create work-life balance whether you work remotely or not:

Sign out of your email, turn off your notifications and work phone off at the end of the day

Whether or not you are working from home, we have all gotten that email at 9:00p.m. that we feel like we NEED to respond to. I’m here to tell you, IT CAN WAIT. Unless you are in the medical field or have a profession that requires 24hr attention, turn everything OFF. Thank me later.

Take your break

I can’t stress this one enough. Especially if you work from home. Although I have gotten a lot better, I am guilty of not taking a break. I will work straight through the day and realize at 4:00 p.m. that I never took a lunch break. Not only does this lead to burnout, but you are entitled to an hour or 30 min break. Take that time to decompress from the stressful day, take a walk to get your steps in, connect with nature or to just relax. Taking your break can truly make a difference throughout the work day.

Clock out at 5:00 p.m.

I know this can be difficult when you are a hard worker. Or if you have a demanding job, or maybe you oversee a large team. However, even though your higher ups and team members may appreciate your hard work, the toll that it can take on your mental, physical and emotional health is not worth extra money. The time spent away from your family and friends is not worth it. Yes, your job and the work that you do is important but the other aspects of your life are just as important and should not be neglected.

Use your PTO (paid time off)

It’s easy to not take time off when you are working remotely. You’re already home! Very true, but you still need a break. Do it. Book the trip. Take a vacation. Take a week or two off. Disconnect for a bit and do a mental reset. According to Allina Health - “People who take vacations have lower stress, less risk of heart disease, a better outlook on life, and more motivation to achieve goals.” (https://www.allinahealth.org/healthysetgo/thrive/importance-of-taking-vacation )

Trust me, the work will still get done. They will function.

The fact of the matter is, at the end of the day, TAKE CARE OF YOU. How can we be our best if we are constantly running on fumes? Whether you are 100% working from home, hybrid, or in the office 100%, be intentional about your work-life balance. Work hard hard but also enforce boundaries to create time for family, friends and most importantly YOURSELF.