MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WORK-LIFE BALANCE WHILE WORKING FROM HOME
More time for household jobs, no need to put on a tie and smart shoes and no rush hour traffic to contend with at the end of the day – the positives of working from home are many, and it’s easy to see why some people prefer it to, for example, an office environment.
However, remote working does present several challenges, one of which is the task of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Working from home means the onus is on you to make sure you find the right blend of productivity and relaxation, so here are a few simple tips that are sure to help you do just that!
Plan your day
Even the busiest schedule can be made far less daunting by the simple act of allocating time for different tasks and separating your workload into distinct categories. Most importantly, make sure to put some time aside for non-work pursuits. Cook yourself a tasty lunch, walk the dog, perhaps watch a little TV – try not to spend your entire day worrying about work. Speaking of which...
Don’t overdo it
For people who are unfamiliar with working from home, there can be a temptation to overcompensate in an attempt to maintain – or exceed – your normal standards of productivity. If anything, this is likely to end up harming your work and putting a downer on your relaxation time. Don’t take on more work than you can manage, and make sure to pinpoint a time at which you’ll switch off for the day. This doesn’t mean dropping everything at 5pm on the dot, but it’s important not to fall into the trap of constantly attempting one more task or replying to one last email.
Remember to socialise
The drastic reduction in social contact is one of the most jarring and difficult changes to deal with when transitioning to remote working. If you’re not careful, entire working days will go by without you uttering so much as a word to anyone. Try to remain in regular contact with your co-workers – even if you’re no longer sharing an office, a quick video call or team meeting will do you the world of good and provide a timely reminder that everyone is in the same boat.
Create an environment that works for you
Ultimately, there’s no one right way to go about working from home. Some people will be perfectly happy getting to work accompanied by a podcast or the radio, whereas others will find that even the slightest distraction is enough to keep them from working productively. If you find yourself unable to focus, something as simple as turning on a light or opening a window can make a surprising amount of difference, as can investing in a comfortable office chair.
300 North are the Facilities Management recruitment specialists providing permanent, temporary and interim solutions to the UK Facilities Management, Mechanical & Electrical and Construction sectors. Get in touch to find out how we can help you with your recruitment needs by visiting our website home page or calling us on 0113 336 5161.
