Between meeting deadlines at work, homeschooling the kids and finding time to take care of your mind, remote working can be a lot less glamourous and a lot more overwhelming. Even without dependants and juggling work with home responsibilities, it can still be challenging to maintain focus and stay motivated when working from home.
However, as the world comes to terms with ‘the new normal’, it appears that, for many of us around the world, remote work might be our reality for the foreseeable future. In other words: It’s time to make the best of it.
Here are some practical, helpful suggestions on how to achieve a better work-life balance:
Plan your day ahead
Having a laid-out plan for the day, detailing exactly what you want to accomplish, is important. Make mental notes or write your to-dos on a piece of paper (and even stick it somewhere visible) for a greater chance of achieving your daily goals.
Have breakfast
It can never be over-stated: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It helps unleash the energy you need to take on whatever the day brings. However, remember to opt for a light breakfast, as heavy meals tend to make you feel tired over time.
Take breaks
You can set a reminder every hour or two to take a 10-15 minutes break. While at it, take time to check on the kids, have a snack or even watch a little TV – whatever works for you. As long as you are taking a break from the computer screen, it’s good news.
Set up a workstation
Having a dedicated workspace makes working from home so much more organised. To the best of your ability, just ensure the space is comfortable and quiet enough for you to work.
Embrace early nights
Yes, even now, “early to bed, early to rise,” is still great advice. Whilst a nightly four-hour Netflix binge is always tempting, giving your body enough time to reboot will do you wonders.
Enjoy your weekends
Unless you’re working to meet an important deadline or attending to an urgent situation, your weekend should belong to you and you alone. Make a fancy meal, see a few good films, catch up with your favourite people and take time to actually rest.
Talk to someone you trust
Having a good balance of both work and life can be tough, especially at this difficult time, so don???t be too hard on yourself. If you need to get things off your chest, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and speak to a friend, relative or even colleague about how you’re feeling. We all have challenges and need to lean on one another, from time to time.
Seyifunmi Oyetunji loves to write about fashion and lifestyle. She currently runs a blog at bricksandlaces.wordpress.com. Follow her on Instagram at @seyifunmioye.
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