Setting Boundaries Between your Home Office and your Home
The reality is that many of us now have a permanent home-office (or designated area in the home where we do our jobs). However, the lines between home and home-office often get blurred and it is becoming increasingly difficult to separate work and home. However, it is possible.
Create a Designated Workspace
Ensuring you have a dedicated workspace can help maintain your boundaries between your work-life and home-life. It helps separate your day to day job from your personal life and it will help your mind switch easily from "it's time to work" to "it's time to relax".
Leveraging a spare bedroom or a space in your home that you can close off is ideal. You can source some simple furniture such as a desk and chair as well as ensure there is proper lighting. In addition, if the space allows, place the desk under a window for some natural light - and facing the window will prevent any glare or screen interferences on your computer from the sun.
Set and Keep a Realistic Schedule
An advantage of working from home is that you often can have a flexible schedule. You can almost make up your day as you go. However, it isn't the best way to work - and can often blur the lines between personal and professional. Whether you work a 9-5 or a 8-4 or 12-8 - it doesn't matter. What matters is that you set and stick to a daily routine. It might be old-school, but consider having a wall calendar or a desk calendar to make notes of your priorities for the week - and stick to it. You can purchase ones that are on the more stylish slide from places like Michaels or Staples.
Get Dressed
Trust us - our favourite part of working from home is the fact that we can wear our sweats, or PJs if we have slept in (but we should't - refer to above setting schedule point). However, getting dressed for the day is another way to help your brain transition from time off to time to work. Beyond the mental benefits of getting dressed, not all remote working allows for 'cameras off' during meetings - so make sure you can put your best face forward.
Ban Distractions
Clutter is often the worst of the worst. It has been said that clutter or mess can increase stress levels without people realizing it. Therefore, when putting together your workspace, make sure you have a place for everything. Consider a set of drawers for papers, files and office supplies. Limit the clutter on your desk. Keep the artwork and wall decor simple and clean.
Take Breaks
Remove yourself from the workspace when you are on a break or taking time for lunch. Make sure you have a space in your home to have that downtime. The kitchen for lunch, the den for a quiet break or even head outside for a walk. Even smaller but frequent breaks can help separate the overwhelming feeling that you might be living at work. It's important for your physical and mental health.
Clock out
When you are done for the day - you are done for the day. Computers off. Door closed - your brain has to understand that work is done until tomorrow and it is time to relax. If possible, shut off work email notifications on your phone - otherwise, you will be pulled back in during our off hours - which then creates the issue in separating work and home.
All to say, when designing or designating a workspace in your home - separate it as much as possible and refrain from overlapping the multi-use intentions for that space. We shouldn't feel we need to live where we work or work where we live.
Create a Designated Workspace
Ensuring you have a dedicated workspace can help maintain your boundaries between your work-life and home-life. It helps separate your day to day job from your personal life and it will help your mind switch easily from "it's time to work" to "it's time to relax".
Leveraging a spare bedroom or a space in your home that you can close off is ideal. You can source some simple furniture such as a desk and chair as well as ensure there is proper lighting. In addition, if the space allows, place the desk under a window for some natural light - and facing the window will prevent any glare or screen interferences on your computer from the sun.
Set and Keep a Realistic Schedule
An advantage of working from home is that you often can have a flexible schedule. You can almost make up your day as you go. However, it isn't the best way to work - and can often blur the lines between personal and professional. Whether you work a 9-5 or a 8-4 or 12-8 - it doesn't matter. What matters is that you set and stick to a daily routine. It might be old-school, but consider having a wall calendar or a desk calendar to make notes of your priorities for the week - and stick to it. You can purchase ones that are on the more stylish slide from places like Michaels or Staples.
Get Dressed
Trust us - our favourite part of working from home is the fact that we can wear our sweats, or PJs if we have slept in (but we should't - refer to above setting schedule point). However, getting dressed for the day is another way to help your brain transition from time off to time to work. Beyond the mental benefits of getting dressed, not all remote working allows for 'cameras off' during meetings - so make sure you can put your best face forward.
Ban Distractions
Clutter is often the worst of the worst. It has been said that clutter or mess can increase stress levels without people realizing it. Therefore, when putting together your workspace, make sure you have a place for everything. Consider a set of drawers for papers, files and office supplies. Limit the clutter on your desk. Keep the artwork and wall decor simple and clean.
Take Breaks
Remove yourself from the workspace when you are on a break or taking time for lunch. Make sure you have a space in your home to have that downtime. The kitchen for lunch, the den for a quiet break or even head outside for a walk. Even smaller but frequent breaks can help separate the overwhelming feeling that you might be living at work. It's important for your physical and mental health.
Clock out
When you are done for the day - you are done for the day. Computers off. Door closed - your brain has to understand that work is done until tomorrow and it is time to relax. If possible, shut off work email notifications on your phone - otherwise, you will be pulled back in during our off hours - which then creates the issue in separating work and home.
All to say, when designing or designating a workspace in your home - separate it as much as possible and refrain from overlapping the multi-use intentions for that space. We shouldn't feel we need to live where we work or work where we live.
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Photo by Arnel Hasanovic on Unsplash
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