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With so many of us working from home right now, our home lives and work lives are more intertwined than ever! So how can we maintain a healthy separation between our home lives and our work lives when they happen in the same space?
We reached out to our client, Courtney, who went from working Monday-Friday from 8:30am-4:30pm in an office to working from home full-time. Courtney's had to make a few adjustments not only to her regular workday, but to also ensure the lines between work time and home time aren't crossed. "I find it really easy to either keep working past 4:30pm or to work on the weekend when I'm just sitting and watching TV," she explained.
"It's easy to convince myself that it's okay to work outside of work hours, when in actuality, it's not healthy for me or my co-workers who may be receiving notifications from my e-mails."
Just as physically cutting yourself off from work helps maintain a healthy work-life balance, it's also important to mentally transition into and out of your workday. While studies have shown that commute time is key to that transition, it's no longer an option for many, including Courtney.
To transition into work-mode, she's kept her morning routine. "I make a point of getting ready by doing my hair and make-up and getting dressed for work each day, regardless of if I have scheduled meetings or not."
Moreover, while she used to listen to podcasts while commuting, she now listens to them when getting ready. "I find that routine helps prepare me for the workday."
As a pro at this whole working-from-home business now, Courtney had some fantastic tips to share. "Set up a dedicated office space!" she advised. "You would think sitting on your couch would be a perk of working from home, but trust me, your back will thank you for using a proper desk chair!"
She also expressed how important it is to take breaks. "Being online all day everyday has taught me the value of taking breaks to stretch my legs, especially if the weather is nice!"
But it hasn't all been a challenge! "Comfy pants!" Courtney laughed, when asked about some of the benefits of working from home. "I bought my house only a few months before the pandemic and am so grateful to have my own space that I love to spend time in," she explained. "Working from home has allowed me to appreciate the house I call home and love it even more!"