The pandemic brought about many alternative ways we could live our lives. It completely changed our perspectives on life, in particular how we should divide our time between home, office, and leisure activities. Now, the home is not only a place of dwelling, but it has also become our office and the only spot for fun and enjoyment. We have to get creative and find new ways to manage our time and space to prevent burnout, frustration, anxiety, and depression.  

Remote work has become the new normal. Although it has been around for a long time, the pandemic accelerated it. Many employers have assumed that they or their employees can’t work from home for many reasons, which include: 

• Low productivity 
• Lack of supervision 
• Lack of collaboration and communication 
• Lack of visibility 

All these concerns diminished during the pandemic as employers learned to trust remote work models and their employees. In fact, the pandemic proved that remote workers were more productive than onsite workers and they worked more hours per week as well. 

Although remote work is an ideal work model for many employees, it comes with some downsides. Managing home and work is a challenge in itself, and it becomes more challenging when home and office become one as it gets really difficult to draw the boundaries between work and home.  

When I started working at Genashtim Pte Ltd, getting myself oriented to the new schedules, digital communication like chats and meetings, and remote office norms were challenging but managing my home and keeping a balance between work and home was a different sort of challenge. 

Here are some of the strategies I used to draw a clear boundary between office and home when they are both in the same place:  

Keeping a Schedule  

When working remotely, time distribution can get blurry, and we may give unfair and unconscious priority to either home or work. Maintaining a schedule helps to keep you on track and prevents you from overlooking any of your responsibilities. Therefore, maintain a schedule and follow it for a smoother work-life integration.  

Get ready and dress for work 

The majority of remote workers think that it is alright to walk around the house and work in their pajamas with a bedhead. However, it is hard to shake off sleepiness and laziness until you get out of your sleep clothes and wear your “work” clothes. This way you will feel that you are at work and not at home which will help condition you for work.  

Assign a ‘workspace’ in your home 

Designate a space in your home that can be called your office so that when you make the physical switch from the home area to the work area, you will be more alert, present, and motivated. Even if you cannot have a private space, setting up a desk in a quiet corner of your home can serve as an office space. Consider investing in noise-canceling headphones to help reduce the ambient sounds in the house.

Communicate your on and off time 

Having a remote team with different time zones can both be a perk and a liability. Coordinating and communicating with teammates around the world are challenges faced by all remote workers. It is best to let everyone know about your active hours according to the company time zone to save yourself from night-time alerts and queries, and your colleagues and managers from confusion.  

Don’t forget to eat and stay hydrated 

Working from home means you have all-day access to your kitchen to eat and drink whenever you want, nevertheless, many remote workers forget to eat or drink when they are busy with work. All offices have a designated lunch hour when all the employees have their lunch. Even though remote workers have the flexibility of setting up their schedule, this could also mean that a worker will keep working to complete a task without taking a break which can then result in burnout. This also increases the importance of keeping a schedule, sticking to it, and taking appropriate breaks for better physical and mental health.  

Set up clear boundaries 

Boundaries are important to have in all relationships, whether personal or professional. As Confucius said, “Respect yourself and others will respect you.” Having self-respect and setting healthy boundaries are important for a healthy work-life balance. Your family should refrain from disturbing you when you are working unless it is really important. The same goes for your office, they must respect your out-of-office time and avoid contacting you if it can wait for the next day. You can mute your personal sources of communication during office hours and do the same to office communication apps when spending time with your family. Share your personal number with your teammates so that they can contact you for urgent matters.  

Be assertive and learn to say no 

There is a misconception that a model employee is one whom you can have at your beck and call and ready to do everything they are asked to do. However, it is healthy to know your limits and it is best not to push them. Committing to something when you know you wouldn’t be able to deliver is not only damaging to your health but also to the company. Assertiveness is a virtue that is not only healthy for remote workers but is also a desired trait required by many employers.  

Take a break from the monotony

One of the most important benefits of working from home is that you have the flexibility to draw your schedule and take intermittent breaks according to your needs. Quietly sitting with your laptop and continuously working can sometimes become unbearable because of the isolation that comes with remote work. Taking breaks for just a couple of minutes to get a drink, a bite to eat, or even water your plants can break the monotony and you can get back to work with a newer and fresher perspective.  

Engage in outdoor activities 

Remote work is considered to be an ideal job for introverts and homebodies but even they can experience ‘cabin fever’ if cooped up for too long. For onsite workers, traveling back home is a relaxing experience. When you work from home, however, it can get frustrating and create anxiety and depression. Therefore, it is essential to plan outdoor activities after work – go for a walk or go to a cafe to have a cup of coffee or tea. Getting fresh air makes both our bodies and minds stronger, so going out should be a must-have routine for remote workers.

The life of a remote worker 

The routine of all office workers is to wake up, get dressed, get in the car or other modes of transportation to travel to work, arrive at the office, and start working. All the small steps we take before starting our work subtly prepare us to get into the work mindset. However, all these steps are removed if you are working remotely. You can even start working after getting out of bed, in fact, you don’t even need to get out of bed if you want to – just grab your laptop and start working. The catch, however, is that you may be sleepy and drowsy half of the day if you are still in your PJs and working on your bed.  

Consider this routine to have a productive day at work: 

• Set your alarm an hour before your official work time
• Get up, shower, and get dressed in something other than your pajamas
• Prepare a cup of coffee or tea and drink it while standing on your porch or balcony while enjoying the sunrise. Try to start work early in the morning
• Start your day and work for a few hours
• Take a break after a few hours of working to enjoy your breakfast or lunch and do some chores around the house
• Get back to work and finish your tasks for the day
• Go for a walk in the evening
• Sleep early to have an early start for the next day

Self-discipline is a requirement for all remote workers as you become your own supervisor and manager when working from home. You need to manage your time wisely and strategically to be fair with both your work and family. Remote work is quickly becoming the new norm as both companies and workers realize that most jobs can be performed as efficiently from home as in an office. With the perks that come with remote work, more and more people are opting for remote jobs.  

JEDI Jobs is a platform where you can find all kinds of remote jobs to kickstart your remote career. For more information visit: https://jedi-jobs.com/