9 Ways to Improve Work-Life Balance While Working From Home

When everyone has suddenly become remote workers, finding a good work-life balance can be challenging. It takes careful consideration and planning.

It is unrealistic and bad for our mental health to have a literal view of work-life balance while working from home. It will leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsatisfied.

Work-life balance is a juggling act or a blend of both aspects. It varies from person to person. If you're single, married, or have children, your life will differ significantly.

We lead such unique lives, so this will vary from person to person. But we hope these tips can help you find your work-life balance, even if you work from home.

1. Let go of perfection

It is even more important to strive for excellence rather than perfection when working from home for work-life balance. In the office, you might not have all the tools you need to accomplish your job exactly as you would at home. It's time to adjust and make the best of what you have. It's a small mental shift that makes a big difference. You will not have all your files, printers, scanners, or even fax machines that you only use once a month.

2. Disconnect

Give yourself a chance to disconnect from work. You can do this as easily as not checking your email at night or on weekends. Instead of rushing to complete every task, allow yourself a moment of calm.

3. Exercise

Exercise should be the first thing we make time for when our routine is disrupted in such a big way, because it reduces stress, pumps up endorphins, and lifts your mood. Start with a 15-minute yoga stretch if you don't have an hour to lift weights. You will get the same benefits (on a smaller scale) while feeling accomplished and taking care of yourself.

Many gyms and trainers offer online classes, or you can find free classes on YouTube. Exercise is a great way to achieve work-life balance while working from home. - Daniel Sarrero, SEA Concrete Contractors Seattle.

4. Get rid of time wasters – both activities and people

It is not selfish when you devote your time to activities that are most beneficial to you. Put it on your not-to-do list. Draw boundaries. Politely excuse yourself from conference calls that are not worthwhile.

5. Eat a proper lunch

Despite the fact that eating snacks all day while stepping away from your fridge sounds amazing, it doesn't help your productivity or work-life balance when you're working from home. If our coworkers remind us to take a lunch break at work, we may be more inclined to do so – but this doesn’t happen at home.

Organize a virtual lunch break with your team so you can connect with each other and take a break together. - Vaibhav Kakkar, Digital Web Solutions.

6. “Go home” on time

In spite of the fact that it can be hard to get up and leave when you don't have to worry about traffic or picking up your kids on time, you should have a "go home" mentality. Decide when you will finish for the day, and at that point, stop working.

If you get more sleep anyway, you will be far more productive. Work-life balance at home is all about creating a new normal and sticking to it, instead of working until the wee hours. – Jimmie Hamilton, Hi Home Picks.

7. Build transitions into and out of work

There is no reason why you shouldn't have an equivalent routine, even if you don't commute. Just because you don't commute, doesn't mean you shouldn't have an equivalent routine.

The commute we take for granted is often taken for granted, so we often wish we could get there faster. Usually, you don't sign off on a major project and make dinner right away, so allow your brain to recharge. Have a signal at the beginning and end of the day to serve as a buffer.

Listen to the radio or read. Spend some extra time with your pet. Walk around the block for the same amount of time you walk to work. Do the same thing on your evening commute as well. - Robin, KodeKloud.

8. Don’t forget to socialize

If you're not used to working alone, you may feel lonely when the entire office starts working from home. You are cut off from a lot of casual daily interactions when the entire office starts working from home. It can feel like Groundhog Day every day when you interact with others, but you can also feel like all you do is work if you're isolated.

Talk to your co-workers during the day to combat this. Take a video coffee break, talk about what they did on the weekend, catch up on their family news, share a joke or meme, or talk about what you're watching. Keep talking about a specific topic if you normally do.

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance requires these little interactions.

9. Don’t sweat the small stuff

Giving yourself a break is a good thing when it comes to finding work-life balance, especially in this ever-changing world. Your approach will be as unique as your personality.

It doesn't matter what the balance looks like, as long as it works for both you and your family. If your life and work are getting the attention they deserve, whatever you're doing is right.

Your definition of work-life balance while working from home is up to you

Having a video call with the Singapore team while you cook dinner might look like your work-life juggle. You are juggling everything while making sure it gets done as well as possible.

In more of a work-life blend, you're already accustomed to running a business at home, with your partner or extended family. You may already have a hard end to your workday because family and business are intertwined. And if you're self-isolating together, your relationship may have become even more intertwined.

From 8-5 you're all working with no distractions, but after that you're able to turn off and walk away.

It will be unique to you how you manage your work-life balance while working from home. It can be really challenging even for those of us used to it. Give yourself some grace.