Between my remote job and social media, I spend a lot of time in our home office. We’ve all heard of work-life balance as it pertains to your traditional 9-5 or corporate America, but what happens when you work from home? Whether your job is fully remote, hybrid, or you’re just curious to know what the WFH life looks like, I’ve rounded up some of my best tips that have helped me to create balance in my daily routine. I hope you enjoy!
develop a morning routine
Having a morning routine is so important! Even though I have nowhere to “go” during the week, creating a consistent routine helps me start my day on the right foot. I prefer to have a slower morning, since these couple of hours of the day are the only ones we truly get to ourselves before the responsibilities of the day take over. In a recent podcast episode, I outlined my personal morning routine that I look forward to each and every day! I also share some additional tips to help you create a routine that prevents you from dreading the sound of your morning alarm. I am truly a better person when I follow this routine and have noticed a huge difference in my energy and my productivity since starting my mornings this way!
get dressed & ready for the day
There is something to be said for getting dressed everyday and putting on some “real clothes” as I like to call them! Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely some days where I’m lounging in a matching set or rolling into the day still wearing athleisure from my morning workout. However, I feel so much more put together and productive when I take some time to pick out an outfit, even if it’s a simple sweater and a comfortable pair of jeans. Adding accessories, doing some quick makeup, and styling my hair can help to dress up the look. It’s also nice to look and feel more presentable, especially on telehealth calls. If I worked in person, I would be in scrubs, so it’s fun to take advantage of the opportunity to play around with the pieces in my wardrobe and create different outfits!
have a dedicated work space
When your home is also your office, it’s important to separate the spaces in which you work and live as best as you can. We are very blessed to have a two bedroom apartment, so the spare/guest bedroom also doubles as an office space! In addition to the furniture we’ve been adding to make the room feel cozier, I also have my desk where I keep all of my work materials. I focus so much better at a desk and find that it is much easier to spread out notes, laptops, planners, etc.. Your brain learns to associate certain tasks with different areas of your home which is why it is so important to designate a specific work space and avoid working from places like your bed or the couch which should only be reserved for sleep and relaxation!
In addition to having a designated work space, it’s also important to set boundaries around work. It is very easy to feel like you always have to be “on” and available, since you don’t have a physical office that you are commuting to and from each day. My biggest recommendation is to follow your work hours as closely as you can! There may be times where a meeting runs over or you have an urgent task that requires a little bit more of your time, but generally speaking, once the day is done, you are too! If this is the time that you would normally leave the office, you should close your laptop at this time as well. You can leave work at your desk or the designated area of your home, carry on with your evening, and come back to it tomorrow. Flipping the switch in your brain that work is over and it is time to relax can help to create a healthy balance in your routine even though you aren’t leaving a physical office space.
get outside
This is a tip that can apply for anyone regardless of whether or not you work from home, but I have found it especially helpful to prioritize getting outside and incorporating movement into my day as much as I can. Working in healthcare, you are always on your feet, so now that I work from home, I find that I am sitting down a lot more than usual. I like to try and get outside at least once per day whether it is a run or a walk as a part of my daily workout, a quick trip outside to check the mail, or taking a short walk after dinner with my husband. If possible, I try to get my exercise and movement in before the work day starts, but any opportunity to get some fresh air throughout the day is helpful to clear your head, take a break from the computer, and get your body moving!
If you also work from home and have any additional tips, feel free to leave them in the comments below. I would love to connect with you!
Thank you so much for reading!
