Here's how you can achieve work-life balance as a remote worker.
Achieving work-life balance as a remote worker can seem challenging, but with the right approach, it's entirely possible. The flexibility that comes with remote work can blur the lines between your professional and personal life, making it crucial to establish boundaries. Whether you're new to the e-learning field or a seasoned virtual collaborator, understanding how to manage your time and space effectively is key to maintaining balance. The following strategies will guide you towards a more structured and fulfilling remote work experience.
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Apoorva ButtanKPMG Learning Services | KPMG NextGen Delhi Executive Team | Training l PhD. I Ex-University Professor | L&D I Mrs…
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Gena Ruocco Thomas, MID, CKMStoryteller | Communications & Knowledge Management | MA in International Development | Author
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Dr. Abdul Malik Abbasi, PhDFounding Chair, Department of English
Creating clear boundaries is essential for remote workers. Designate a specific area in your home as your workspace, and make it off-limits for non-work activities. Establish work hours and stick to them as if you were in a physical office. Inform your family or roommates about your schedule to minimize interruptions. By compartmentalizing your work life, you'll find it easier to switch off and enjoy personal time without work-related thoughts encroaching on your relaxation.
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Having a boundary-drawing activity around your work hours is very helpful. For example, after work plan to water plants or take a walk as a way of decompressing for the day and telling your whole self that work is over. There's something about an actual activity that sets the boundary line for when work is done that has helped me check work emails less while I'm in home-mode.
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Setting clear boundaries is crucial for remote workers. Dedicate a specific area in your home as your workspace, ensuring it's free from distractions. Establishing regular work hours and communicating them to your family or roommates can help minimize interruptions. By creating this separation between work and personal life, you can maintain a healthier work-life balance and prevent work-related stress from encroaching on your time.
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In my experience, learning to say "no" to additional work requests that would disrupt my schedule is key to achieving a healthy work-life balance while working from home.
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Ne vous sentez pas mal d'arrêter après une bonne journée de travail.... La journée de demain sert précisément à poursuivre la besogne.
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Develop a morning routine and stick to it. Don't log into work as soon as you get up. Take some time to meditate, have a cup of coffee, workout, call a friend to say good morning, turn on some inspirational music or a podcast. Easing into your day is critical for how you approach challenges with ease.
Planning your day can help you stay on track and reduce stress. Start by prioritizing tasks and setting realistic goals for what you want to accomplish each day. Use a digital calendar or planner to block out time for work tasks, breaks, and personal activities. This visual representation of your day will help you manage your time effectively and ensure that you're not overworking yourself.
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Creating a daily schedule is key to staying productive and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Start by identifying your most important tasks for the day and allocate specific time blocks for each task. For example, if you have a project deadline, allocate a few hours in the morning to focus solely on that project. Be sure to include breaks in your schedule to rest and recharge. By planning your day effectively, you can ensure that you make progress on your tasks while also taking care of your well-being.
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Planning ahead is important to be effective and focused. What I generally do is to write in my calendar a list of the important tasks or activities in order of priority that I need to do the day/week after. I also allocate slot to these activities in my calendar so colleagues know that I am busy. I also like to strikethrough the activity once it's done, as it gives me a sense of accomplishment. Planning ahead also helps me finish my workday with a piece of mind: since I already organised and prioritised the important upcoming tasks, I can completely disconnect when the day is over.
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Planning ahead is key, scheduling work hours, breaks, and leisure time helps prevent burnout and ensures that tasks are completed efficiently.
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In my experience planning ahead makes for an easier experience. Like I stated earlier always plan ahead and make sure you are still getting breaks even if you have to change or divert from your daily plan. Always be prepared for anything, and making sure you look after your self as to not burn out by under-planning.
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Create a schedule for yourself in the way that you learn best. Keep the schedule in the tool that you use most often could be a phone, tablet, written etc. Block out time for your personal stuff and wellness. I’ve also done recaps of the day based on my calendar. Don’t over think it, if you can’t do it today move it over to tomorrow.
Regular breaks are crucial for maintaining productivity and preventing burnout. Schedule short breaks throughout your day to step away from your computer. Use this time to stretch, go for a walk, or engage in a relaxing activity. These pauses can help you recharge and return to your tasks with renewed focus and energy.
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Use Pomodoro technique. Plan your day and chunk it into pomodoros. A pomodoro shall ideally have 25 minutes of focussed working and 5 min break. After 4 repetitions take a longer 15-20 minute break to walk around, grab coffee or read a few pages of a book. This pause helps re-energise and resume with fresh energy.
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Effective time management is crucial for remote workers to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Start by creating a daily schedule that includes dedicated time for work, breaks, and personal activities. For example, if you have a project deadline, block out specific hours in your day to focus solely on that task. Additionally, establish boundaries with your work hours to prevent overworking. By managing your time effectively, you can ensure that you have enough time for both work and relaxation, leading to increased productivity and overall well-being.
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Taking periodic breaks is essential to keeping a flowstate for me. I take walks around my house if the weather is bad, or around my neighborhood. I recently started doing isometric exercises and lifting weights on breaks. I also try to always have time to prepare a lunch so that I can enjoy that process and relax in the middle of the day. If I work through my lunch, I am almost always in a worse mood later in the day.
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In an environment prepared for remote work and with a well-adjusted routine, it is very common for us to work for hours without getting up for anything, unlike what usually happens in in-person work, due to the layout of the offices and the exchange with other colleagues. I started using a smartwatch that reminds me to get up, stretch and move from time to time and I downloaded an app that reminds me to drink water too. These are small actions, but they make all the difference in my health and well-being as a remote worker.
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Bem estar tem sido um grande desafio há anos em nossas agendas. A pandemia potencializou ao extremo essa temática e vimos a importância de nosso cuidado mental. Por isso, separe pausas ao longo do dia para se conectar com você, para se nutrir do que é importante em sua vida. Cuide-se!
Physical activity is important for both your physical and mental well-being. Incorporate exercise into your daily routine, whether it's a morning jog, a midday yoga session, or an evening workout. Regular exercise can help reduce stress, improve your mood, and increase your energy levels, contributing to a better work-life balance.
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In my experience, one should write all creative work in the morning hours. This helps one write creative ideas for research and make correct decisions in order to produce some original work on one's part.
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To both stay active and stay connected with my team (who is all 100% remote), I like to plan "walk and talk" sessions with colleagues. We both take a walk "together" and catch up with each other from a "full self" perspective, everything from work to family to personal and beyond. These moments really make me feel a sense of community that can be difficult working remotely and encourage us both to take time to get exercise and fresh air, stepping away from our screens.
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For me, getting in a good morning workout is a great way to get my day started. It can be so tempting to just leave ourselves enough time to roll out of bed and login. I find that this practice left me feeling groggy throughout the day. When I started implementing a morning workout routine, I felt more energized and alert, leading to a productive day!
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For me, “activity” comes in a variety of forms. Formal exercise, working in the garden, and walking to the market for groceries that I’ll use when I prepare our meals. These are already part of my activity, but they aren’t something I need to include in my daily routine; they are part of my work-life balance. I believe that balance is what life is all about, so I re-evaluate my priorities every day, and actively give myself credit for what I’m able to accomplish each day.
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In my experience, remaining engaged in the workplace extends beyond mere physical activity. It encompasses sustaining productivity, involvement, and passion throughout the day. This entails actively engaging in meetings, fostering collaboration with peers, embracing new challenges, and persistently evolving within your role. It's about proactive problem-solving, resourcefulness, and adaptability, all while delivering substantial contributions to your team and company. Ultimately, workplace activity isn't merely about staying busy, but rather about generating a meaningful influence and realizing your objectives.
Social interaction is vital for remote workers who may feel isolated. Make an effort to maintain regular contact with colleagues through virtual collaboration tools. Outside of work, stay connected with friends and family through calls or social activities. Balancing social interactions with work commitments can help you feel more integrated and less detached from the world around you.
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When working remotely, it can be more difficult to create intimacy with some co-workers and this affects the climate, team bonding and can even impact deliveries. To prevent this from happening, it is important to maintain a regular agenda with the team to talk about issues beyond professionals, which are usually well covered in regular meetings. This is equivalent to times when people have lunch or coffee together and get to know each other better, which makes them more willing to work collaboratively.
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Sometimes, when working remotely, employees tend to lose interest in socializing and ultimately fall into an easy monotonous lifestyle that will effect their work output. To avoid this and maintain the enthusiasm and motivation of employees, the organization needs to organize routine social gatherings and also seasonal Outbound training activities. Such activities will maintain the cohesion as well as the team spirit of the employees.
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Llevo años trabajando en remoto y no me siento aislada. En mi día a día hablo con diferentes personas de mi ámbito profesional por distintos canales de comunicación, a través de videollamadas, teléfono o mensajes (correo electrónico, plataformas de mensajería). En el ámbito personal, todas las semanas trato de socializar para compensar la falta de presencialidad en mi trabajo. Creo que es clave compensar con esta parte. Recuerdo por ejemplo en época pandémica como sí que me resultaba mucho más duro, y el trabajo era el mismo. Lo que cambiaba era la vida personal. Esto demuestra que el equilibrio entre estas dos facetas cobra más importancia cuando trabajas en remoto. #aprendizajeelectronico #educacion
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O ser humano possui a necessidade de viver em sociedade. Relações profissionais são essenciais para evolução no trabalho e na carreira, mas mesmo estas devem ser autênticas. Descubra as pessoas que possam trazer alegria ao seu dia, que te ajudem a ser uma pessoa melhor. Existe um senso de pertencimento quando nos relacionamos com trocas consistentes, e isso nos faz exercitar a empatia, a generosidade para com o outro , gerando valor agregado para quem convive, para a doação e para a evolução em sociedade.
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In my experience, colleagues who socialize often at work develop a sense of friendship and cooperation. Positive and lively relationships are created by these exchanges, which can take the form of chit-chatting during coffee breaks, exchanging ideas during team meetings, or bonding during lunch outings. Developing connections outside of work improves morale, fosters open communication, and strengthens teamwork. Enjoying the journey together is more important than merely doing the task at hand.
Finally, take time to reflect on your work-life balance regularly. Assess what's working and what isn't, and make adjustments as needed. Are you working too many hours? Do you need more downtime? Reflecting on these questions can help you make necessary changes to achieve a healthier balance between your professional and personal life.
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I have found this to be the most important asset in work - life balance. Especially during COVID I felt this the most difficult then. It sometimes feels like your work is at home and you cannot relax as home is meant to be a place where you can find solitude. Adapt the room so you have planned your well-being, that could be - lighting a scented candle as you work, make the room feel a little different from the rest of the house so you can finally relax when you are at home and switch off. Make sure you don’t go back into the room unless you are planning on working. This can create a healthy boundary for your well-being.
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Reflita se está no caminho certo quando pensa em sua vida pessoal x profissional. O que você busca nessa equação? Qual o caminho do meio? Está feliz com o tempo dedicado a ambas?
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Reflecting often is vital to your success, especially if you are self-employed. Focusing on your goals daily, weekly, or yearly and reaching those goals is the only thing that matters. Celebrating small wins along the way keeps you going.
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Reflection on oneself is very important. Are we doing things the right way? is the work delegated well and is the team equipped to do it the right way? Taking enough down time is important for mental heath as well. Do we do enough digital fasting to relax our minds to be productive? if not, we should!
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By regularly reflecting on your work-life balance, you're able to make informed decisions that can lead to a healthier, more satisfying, and more productive life both in and out of work. This ongoing process helps align your daily activities with your broader life goals and values. Whether you engage in journaling or have a mentor to engage in ongoing reflection with, this effort will help you flourish.
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People often do not understand the meaning of 'work from home'. Covid has brought a new perspective and work from home is a blessing as well, We save travel time and can be more productive on the work front. Its important to treat work from home, as work from office! The focus should be on getting the job done and not calculate the number of hours! Quality work and within deadlines should be a focus.
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Learn to say NO! You may come across managers who would expect you to be available 24*7 and may ask you to complete tasks post working hours. Though it's good to be reachable 24*7, one should learn to say no to working at odd hours. One should also learn the art of smart work. Look for efficient ways that can help you complete your work within your working hours.
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Achieving work-life balance requires a holistic approach that integrates effective time management, boundary-setting, and self-care practices. By prioritizing tasks, setting boundaries between work and personal life, and practicing regular self-care activities like exercise and relaxation, individuals can cultivate a healthier balance. It's crucial to communicate openly with colleagues and loved ones, delegate tasks when possible, and regularly assess and adjust priorities to align with personal and professional goals. Embracing flexibility, embracing and learn.
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Self-care is critical in remote work. You have to find that sweet spot of balance when working at home. Take time to work in breaks such as a lunchtime walk to clear your mind. Find a suitable space that gives you peace and calm so you are not distracted by others around. Set boundaries - clear working hours. It is too easy for work to spill into family time or extend into long days. Our brains need time for fun and relaxation so make sure your work day is productive and appropriately crafted so you don't burn out or impact your home life.
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One thing I found helpful is setting limits on technology, which involves being mindful of how and when you use digital devices for work-related tasks. This could include limiting the time spent on email, chat apps, or other work-related platforms outside of designated work hours. One effective strategy is to turn off notifications or use apps that block distracting websites during your personal time. By doing so, you can create a clear separation between work and leisure, allowing you to fully engage in activities that recharge you mentally and emotionally.