How To Set Work And Home-Life Boundaries

A healthy work-life balance is essential to be happy both professionally and personally. With many people working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our work and personal lives are blending together. It can be challenging to separate work from your day-to-day life when you work from home because, well, you're at home. There are many benefits to having a work-life balance, including being less likely to burn out and getting to spend more time around your family. Plus, this balance is simply crucial for your overall health (via Apollo Technical).

In a survey of 1,000 respondents completed by Deloitte, 77% said they experienced burnout at least once in their current job due to unmanageable stress that affects both their productivity and relationships at home, including with your significant other. Yes, prioritizing this balance can prove challenging, but using tips and tricks that can help you work more efficiently while also paying attention to your family can make a world of difference. According to Forbes, setting clear boundaries will allow you to fulfill your work obligations and enjoy family time without burning out.

Commuting to work creates specific boundaries because it gives your mind time to transition and get ready for work (or ready to go home), but remote work has blurred the lines between work and home when you work from home in your PJs. Here are some ways to establish boundaries between your work and home lives.

According to Inc.com, one of the best ways to find work-life balance is by building physical boundaries. You might be working in bed, but designating an area in your home as your office can be beneficial. You want to keep that area clutter-free as it will help you focus, and you'll want to work exclusively at your new office space. Creating a physical boundary can help you build mental boundaries, too. Plus, you can examine the latest home office trends to make your space your own.

Even if you're working from home, you should set strict work hours. In fact, Bree Luther from Inspired Science Coaching told Forbes, "Keep yourself accountable and create a schedule." She added that waking up and going to sleep at the same time can help you set better boundaries because you'll have a routine. You just have to stick to it!

Finally, it can be helpful to create start-up and shut-down routines, as explained by CNBC. Your start-up routine could be changing out of your loungewear to switch to your work mode, for example. Anna Dearmon Kornick, a time management coach and head of community at Clockwise, told the publication, "Your routine can be as simple as reviewing your calendar, updating your to-do list, and shutting down your laptop." Kornick added that repeating these actions at the end of the day will switch your mindset to thinking work is done.