How to Set Boundaries When Working From Home
Since the pandemic hit, working from home has become the norm rather than the exception. But it comes with its own set of challenges, and it can make it particularly difficult to have boundaries between your work and home life. If you are new to working from home, these tips can help ease the transition.
Make a Designated and Comfortable Work Space
If you have a room that you can use as an office space, that’s great. However, many of us don’t have an extra room – in that case, you need to find other ways to keep your work space separate. Try to have a desk that is only your work desk. Don’t work at the kitchen table or on your bed, as you will begin to associate these places with work.
Position your desk somewhere where you can’t see many distractions. Get yourself a good office chair or at least something comfortable. Arrange your desk in a way that helps you focus. Some people like to decorate their workspaces, others prefer more of a minimalist approach. The main idea is that you have a designated work space that is conducive to productivity and that you don’t let your work expand to fill the house.
Keep Clearly Defined Working Hours
As well as keeping spatial boundaries, you need to keep time-based boundaries too. If you don’t have a clear schedule, it’s all too easy for your work to creep into your down time. Of course, the great thing about working from home is that you often get to set your own schedule.
However, once you have set that schedule you should stick to it. Know how many hours in a day you plan to work and when those hours will be. Minimize distraction during your working hours. If you live with other people, it’s important to communicate to them when you will be working and not to disturb you during that time. Then, when your working hours are done, close all your tabs, clear your desk and walk away.
Morning and Evening Routines
This is something we take for granted, but the commute to work is a way of signaling to your brain that the work day is about to begin, and it gives you time to mentally prepare. Likewise, the train or car ride home tells you that the work day is over and allows you to begin to wind down. If you work from home, having routines that signal the start and end of the work day can do wonders to entrench your boundaries. Your morning routine could be coffee with the newspaper, exercise, or simply putting on some real work clothes. At the end of the day you might walk the dog, wind down with a glass of wine or invest in your future at https://buybitcoininstantly.xyz/. It doesn’t matter what you do, but create markers to signal the start and end of your work day. It can make it easier to stick to your schedule and prevent work from creeping into your precious time for relaxation, hobbies, and loved ones.