Tips for Work-Life Balance When Working from Home
For many entrepreneurs, working from home is a blessing. You can cuddle with your pets during your lunch break or meet the kids at the bus stop in the afternoon—luxuries you wouldn’t have in a traditional office setting. However, bringing your office into your house isn’t always easy. Many people struggle with their work-life balance when working from home because it’s tempting to log on for a second when you are supposed to be away from your desk.
Fortunately, you can build up healthy habits to set dedicated work hours that don’t encroach on your leisure time. Follow these tips and decide what works best for you.
Why Work-Life Balance Is Important
Lots of people tend to invest themselves completely in their work, and it almost always takes a toll on their personal life in one way or another. Believe it or not, doing your best work can have as much to do with not working as it does with your actual on-the-job performance!
When you don’t have a good work-life balance, you’re going to miss out on all the activities and experiences that recharge your batteries, let your mind recover from intense focusing, and ensure you get restorative sleep. Plus, because you’ll be neglecting important basic maintenance activities like paying bills or spending time with your family, these things will build up and become a source of stress. That actually makes it harder to work!
Take some time to reflect on your work-life balance when working from home and see if there are any areas you can institute healthy boundaries. For example, some people miss out on important milestones and family time because they are distracted by work messages and tasks. That’s not good for anyone, and it may be worth adjusting your habits when it comes to the computer or office time.
Create a Dedicated Office Space
Millions of Americans first started working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and many were unprepared for the task. They hunched over their laptops at kitchen tables and on family sofas, which caused distractions and backaches. It’s no surprise that mentions of home offices skyrocketed in property listings because workers needed dedicated spaces to focus.
Look at your home and brainstorm areas where you can set up a home office. This could mean converting a guest bedroom into an office space or transforming your book nook. Every renter or homeowner has their own limitations and opportunities.
Also, when you have a dedicated office space, it is easier to turn off thoughts about work when you are clocked out. You can physically walk away from the job and move to a more leisure-centric part of the house.
Develop a “Mental Commute”
One of the best parts of working from home is that you no longer waste time sitting in rush-hour traffic. While commutes are almost universally hated, they play an important role. They help your brain prepare for work in the morning and shift your mind from work mode to leisure mode in the evening. If you are struggling to establish a work-life balance when working from home, test out the concept of a mental commute.
Your mental commute is a transition you create for yourself at the end of each workday. It could involve taking a walk, going to the gym, relaxing with a few stretches, or even something silly and fun like dancing around your kitchen! You can even build chores into your mental commute: turn on some music and wash the dishes, allowing your mind to rest while you complete this simple task.
Practice your mental commute daily until your brain recognizes that you are using it as a transition away from the workplace. This can help you turn off those pesky job-related thoughts.
Think About Why You Are Overworking
Look at your daily and weekly schedules to see if there are reasons why you work late and spend your weekends clocked in. You might have too much on your plate that prevents you from maintaining a healthy work-life balance. If your business is growing, make sure you can grow with it. Consider outsourcing your marketing efforts and hiring an accountant to handle your books. These professionals will free up administrative time for more meaningful work.
Make sure you are getting the most out of your work hours so you don’t have to use your leisure time to catch up.
Ask Others to Hold You Accountable
Entrepreneurs have to manage themselves, their clients, and their business as a whole. Sometimes it helps to have someone else take over. Ask a person you love to hold you accountable to your work-life balance goals. For example, tell your partner that you want to clock out by 6 p.m. each day. They can gently let you know when it’s time to leave your desk.
Accountability partners come in all forms, including friends you promise to meet for yoga and pets who are eager to visit the dog park. By keeping commitments to someone else, you can protect your mental health from overwork while feeling good about your choices.
Take Control of Your Career
You aren’t the only one who struggles to maintain a work-life balance when working from home. Countless other entrepreneurs don’t know how to turn off their computers and set their phones aside. Fortunately, by following these steps, you can enact meaningful change in your life.
If you are ready to elevate your career and make healthy choices for your business, check out Sweet Sleep Academy. We offer the coaching and mentorship you need to avoid burnout and thrive as a growing business owner.
