When the lines between personal and professional life get blurred, it can become very difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance. As much of the workforce in North America are realizing their new work-from-home reality, it’s important to stay on top of balancing your home and office life. Often, an employee’s emotional and physical health suffers the most when the scale tips one way. This article will cover some simple tips that will help you maintain a healthy and productive work-life balance while working from home.
Disconnecting is a Must
Being diligent about keeping your work and living areas separate is a great way to create a work-life divide. Even if setting up a home office is not possible, it’s important to designate a specific place in your home where you will do your work. If the kitchen table is your office space, it will be very difficult to keep your work and life tasks separate and could inflict unnecessary stress on your daily activities. If you have space and resources, setting a home office is a very good idea. Here are some tips.
Other ways to disconnect include only having your work phone “on” during working hours only or sleeping with your phone and laptop in a separate room.
Be Mindful of Your Diet
As many US citizens deal with a drastic shift in working conditions, our regular eating times and choices may be altered. However, it’s important to remember that productivity and happiness are results of a properly nourished body and mind. Having nutritious options available in your home is essential. Furthermore, be aware of your water intake. For many, drinking the recommended intake of 8 glasses of water per day does not come naturally. Proper hydration plays a key role in our daily functioning: it improves brain activity, lubricates joints, delivers oxygen through the body, regulates body temperature, maintains healthy blood pressure, and removes toxins.
Take Breaks to Exercise
Eating healthily is one component of a healthy active lifestyle: it’s important to make sure you regularly exercise, as well. Exercise enforces your physical and emotional health in several ways. It can have positive impacts on your mood, help you sleep at night, increase your energy and productivity throughout the day, and manage your risk of many physical health conditions such as depression, anxiety, stroke, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, and high blood pressure.
Even if you are not going to the gym or taking part in any intense physical exercise, taking a break in your workday is crucial. A lunch break walk or stretch is an effective way to reset for the afternoon. Your body and mind will thank you!
Bonus Tip! Standing desks: If you are finding it hard trying to adjust a work and exercise schedule while working from home consider purchasing a standing desk. Standing desk encourages workers to spend less time sitting and more time on your feet standing. The use of a standing desk can improve hips flexible and blood circulation.
Our friends at Consumer Advocate has compiled a comprehensive guide to finding the standing desk that fits your personal needs and work space: https://www.consumersadvocate.org/standing-desk
Create a Meaningful Routine
Setting aside time for yourself, especially first thing in the morning, will allow you to set intentions or goals for your day. Whether your morning ritual includes stretching, a skincare routine, writing in your journal, meditation, enjoying a cup of coffee before work, playing an instrument, drawing a picture, taking the time to make a healthy breakfast, or carrying out any other activity that you find to be relaxing ease into your day – mindful nourishment is key for positive, satisfaction, and motivation. Setting the tone for your day will keep you from feeling rushed or anxious first thing and instead facilitate a calm and level-headed beginning to each workday.
Depending on your work, you may have had a particular attire that you wore to the office each day. Avoid working in your PJs – instead, try to mimic how you might have dressed going into the office. This will help keep you in line with your regular work routine and have positive impacts on your productivity throughout your shift. Getting dressed like you’re going to be meeting up with a client is a useful standard to set.
Connect with Your Loved Ones
For many US Citizens, the phenomenon of working alone at home is novel. It can get lonely sometimes, especially if you are accustomed to a bustling and interactive office space. More than ever, now is the time to connect with your friends and family, wherever they may be. Various video chat and conferencing programs are an easy way to do this. Scheduling a personal call with an old friend in the middle of your day or over a meal is a great way to chat and add personal human connection into your day.
Keeping these best practices in mind will help to foster a healthy and sustainable work-life balance for Canadians, as employees make the transition from office to home for the foreseeable future. In uncertain times like these, being mindful of your mental and physical health is essential. Engaging in nourishing self-care practices while working from home will give you peace of mind, a sense of well-being, increased job satisfaction and heightened productivity at work.