5 tips for improving work-life balance when hustling from home

Now that we’ve entered Phase 3, most of us are being called back to the office more frequently. We still spend a significant amount of time hustling from home though, and after a long period of time, the freedom we look forward to initially can quickly turn into frustration.

When working from the comfort of your own crib, the line between work and life can get blurry. Many face issues like grinding longer hours or feeling tired of their mundane routines at home.

It seems that making sure to take care of your physical and mental health is more important than ever, and we’ve listed some tips on how to improve work-life balance when working remotely.

1. Adopt a morning routine

Working from home means getting on that early morning zoom call one minute before it starts. You’re tired, still in your pajamas, and haven’t even had your coffee yet. While it can be tempting to snooze for as long as you can before work beckons, trying to stick to a morning routine can help you start the day off fresh.

This means slapping your face with some cold water, putting on a change of (still comfy) clothes and getting some caffeine in your system. Doing these steps will prep your mind and body for the day ahead, and can help you avoid feeling sluggish.

If you’re feeling fancy, you can even light up a candle to set a pleasant ambience for working.

2. Create a to-do list for the day

It’s time to put that unused planner that has been collecting dust to good use. Whether at the office or at home, it can be beneficial to make a list of tasks to do in order of priority. By doing that, your mind is less likely to be all over the place, and you can also keep track of what needs to be completed as soon as possible.

Not only do you get that satisfaction from checking off every item on the list, but you are also reminded to be done for the day, and to leave less time-sensitive tasks for tomorrow.

3. Keep to working hours and take breaks

It can be unrealistic to expect to always knock off on time, especially during busy periods or time-sensitive projects that might require you to OT.

But, if you’re experiencing the joys of a fairly typical workday, completing your to-do list for the day (point two) can remind you to stick to proper working hours.

While we all eagerly count down to our lunch break when at the office, we somehow forget to have our meals on time at home. Consider getting your hands on some artisanal dinnerware to make even the most boring of dishes fun.

Besides, you can also listen to a podcast or two and relish in the peacefulness away from employee duties.

4. Make plans after work

It can get too comfortable working from the comfort of your couch, and it can become a hassle to make plans that require putting on public-appropriate outfits.

Be it scheduling dinner with a friend, or simply going for a stroll in the park, these are ways to force yourself to step away from the computer. You also get to really de-stress from the day, and get some much needed socialising or exposure to nature.

Working from home can present many challenges, but taking small steps to change how you function can help improve your work-life balance situation.

Feature image taken from Unsplash