How to NAIL Work-Life Balance While Working From Home

I’ve worked from home for several years, spread over a variety of positions with different companies. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s stinking hard to achieve a healthy work-life balance while working from home.

I mean, your computer’s always there, shifting your mind into work mode when you’re trying to relax. And people either believe you don’t work at all (Hello, friend inviting you to hang out during work hours!) or believe you’re on call at all hours. (I’m looking at you, coworker texting updates at 10:00 PM!)

And let’s not forget the constant struggle of attempting to juggle home-work double duty. A 15-minute break? I’d better start a load of laundry!

It all adds up to remote workers feeling tied to their computers, stressed out by constant overload, and never fully enjoying a real break. After years of trial and error, I can say with confidence that I don’t give work a single thought when I’m not logged in.

What’s the secret to achieving work-life balance while working from home, you ask? I’d love to share!

Designate a specific place in your home for working rather than “traveling” around the house.

One of the first ways to achieve work-life balance while working from home seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it? I mean, being able to work from your couch or bed or patio seems like one of the biggest perks for remote employees, right?

The problem is that when you move from place to place, you’re subconsciously associating each of those places with work. Now your bed is no longer a peaceful and sacred place. And your living room could be used for work or leisure. And when you’re in those places, your mind will more easily wander to work.

Instead, choose a place that can be associated with work and nothing else. It’s ideal if you have a traditional home office, but you can also create a dedicated workspace.

I work from a small desk in the corner of my bedroom and do nothing but work in that space. Doing this assures that when I’m on work time, I’m working and when I’m off, I’m truly mentally off.

Close the door (or your eyes) to your home life while working.

If you were working in a traditional office, would you spend your lunch doing dishes and laundry? Probably not.

Yet when you’re working from home, there’s always something that needs to be done. While this can feel like one of the benefits of remote work, it also creates an atmosphere where you’re constantly multitasking and always “on.”

My solution to this problem is to close my bedroom door while I’m working. Out of sight, out of mind. If you don’t have a door to close on your household tasks, you’ll want to work hard to close your eyes to them until you’re done working.

If you were driving to the office, no one would expect you to knock out laundry between meetings. So why should you be expected to do double duty because your office space happens to be located within your home?

Work when you’re “at work.” Take care of your home when you’re “home.” Your mind and body will thank you.

Set a regular work schedule and don’t deviate from it.

This one action can make a world of difference when it comes to achieving work-life balance while working from home. But it can be tricky!

I’ll always remember when a coworker invited four of us to a last-minute meeting that was outside all of our scheduled hours. I listened to the first three reluctantly agree to the time, understanding their thinking – “I’m here anyway, so I might as well log on for one more hour. After all, I don’t want to inconvenience anyone.”

I was thisclose to doing the same but then thought about how much I had been looking forward to my after-work plans. So instead, I said, “Sorry team, I won’t be able to make that time. I’m back in tomorrow at 9, though! Otherwise, maybe someone could catch me up to speed later?”

Then I cringed and waited. Would they all think I wasn’t a team player? Would I miss out on vital information?

Then, one by one, my coworkers each admitted that the following day would work better for them, too. And the meeting was rescheduled for a time we would all actually be “in the office.”

Set the expectation that you’re working hard during work hours, but that your job isn’t your whole life. People will only respect your personal life and plans as much as you do.

Don’t check work emails or chats outside of your set work hours.

This one is hard for most remote workers. After all, we’re often interested in what happens in some work situations. Or sometimes we want to know what we’ll be “walking into” on Monday morning.

But this is another slippery slope. First, because it violates your time “off.”

But secondly, because you’re setting expectations for your coworkers. After all, if they know you’re checking emails on the weekends or after hours, they’ll feel free to direct emails your way and expect your response during those times.

Because why wouldn’t you answer their simple question? It would take you less than a minute! And after a while, you’ll feel obligated to keep an eye on your emails every weekend because it’s the expectation you’ve set for others.

Slippery. Slope.

Instead, only check work emails and chats during your work hours. And don’t download email/chat apps onto your phone, which will only increase your temptation to check in periodically. If you must download the apps, be sure to turn off notifications and only use them for very rare emergencies.

Set healthy expectations with team members.

I manage a team of roughly 12 people at any given time, whose hours span anywhere from 10:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Whenever someone new joins my team, I set expectations right up front.

I tell them I’m here to support them in any and every way I can, but that I work hard to achieve a healthy work-life balance. That means I’m available in case of emergencies, but not on call at all hours for non-urgent matters.

I’m very honest that I also don’t carry my phone with me around my home or have it on at all times. So when they do text me, to please be patient for me to see the text, it might be an hour or two before I realize I left my phone in the other room.

Again, people will only respect your personal life and family time as much as you do. Don’t think of it as not being a team player. Think of it as explaining your lifestyle, so they know what to expect from you.

So what should they do if they genuinely need help when you’re not logged in? That brings me to my next point…

Let team members know what resources are available to them when you’re not.

As part of my getting-to-know-you chat, I don’t just tell my team members not to bother me when I’m not working. I drown them in available resources.

Do you have a question about your workflow? Your more senior peers are an excellent resource!

Do you have a question about benefits or your paycheck? Here’s the number to HR.

Do you need help with something only a manager can do? Here are the schedules of all of the team managers in our workplace, so you always know who’s here and available to help when I’m not.

If your question or issue isn’t time-sensitive, please email me, and I promise I’ll respond as soon as possible when I return to the office.

By designating some back-up options, you can set healthy boundaries without leaving others stranded.

Don’t so readily share your phone number.

Many remote employees include their personal cell numbers in every email they send. After confirming with my manager that it wasn’t a requirement, I chose to omit my phone number from mine.

The fact is that there are some people who, no matter how many other resources are available to them, will text and call you about every little thing. They’ll ask you questions that could have waited until Monday morning, but darn it, they were just curious and wanted to know now.

Or they’ll give you updates they think you might want. Some remote workers (and workers in general!) place themselves “on-call” at all hours and want to know everything happening with team members the second it happens. They’ll assume you want the same and so might contact you for the sake of being helpful.

Only a handful of people in my workplace (outside of the team I manage) know my phone number. And guess what? I don’t get loads of calls about work during my personal time.

Designate a time to catch up on emails when you return to your work schedule.

I designate the first hour of every day to catching up on my emails and chats. That means I schedule a meeting in my calendar that simply says “Emails” and blocks that time from anyone else adding to my schedule. If I’m returning from the weekend or vacation, I’ll designate several hours.

That gives me uninterrupted time to focus on catching up and proves to my team what I told them – that I’ll address their emails as soon as possible when I return to the office. If you tell your team you’ll answer their emails ASAP but don’t follow up on that promise, you’ll find they’ll slowly fall away from their promise to only text you for emergencies.

You are more than capable of nailing a healthy work-life balance while working from home! By designating your office space and work hours, refusing to multitask personal life and office work, and setting healthy expectations with coworkers, remote workers can achieve the peace and balance that we all crave. You’ve got this, friend!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Remote employees often struggle with setting clear boundaries, managing energy, and creating physical separation between office space and living space. These unique challenges can lead to burnout if not addressed with clear strategies.

How can I set clear work hours at home without feeling like I’m always “on”?

If official work hours haven’t already been assigned to you, decide on specific start and end times for remote working. Write them down and share them with your team members and family so everyone knows when you’re available.

When the time arrives to shift from your work life to your private life, turn off work notifications on your phone and computer. This simple step can help your brain shift gears without any messy overlap.

You can also create a morning routine to begin your work day (i.e. shower, make coffee, check chats and emails, dive into work) as well as a set routine to end each work day (i.e. turn off notifications, close your laptop, turn off lights in your dedicated workspace). Having a daily routine can help you mentally set clear boundaries between work time and personal time.

What are some simple ways to separate my office space from my living space in a small home or open area?

If you don’t have a separate room, claim a specific corner of your living room or table as your dedicated workspace. Use this space only during work hours so your brain connects it with productivity.

Consider using a folding screen or bookshelf to create a visual barrier between your work environment and the rest of your room. Even a small divider can help your brain to differentiate your work zone from your living space.

It can also be helpful to put your work items away at the end of the day. Storing your laptop and papers in a drawer or basket removes the visual reminder of your work life and responsibilities during your personal time.

How do I avoid burnout when my job and personal life happen in the same place?

Besides your lunch break (which should be a non-negotiable!), take regular, short breaks throughout the day to step away from your office space. A five-minute walk or stretch every hour can help reset your mind, plus boost your physical health!

Set limits on your work hours and stick to them. Working longer hours because you’re already home is one of the fastest and easiest ways to experience burnout.

Plus, make sure you’re making time for activities that have nothing to do with work! Hobbies, exercise, and a healthy social life will give your brain a real break from work mode.

What boundaries should I communicate to my manager and team members for better work-life balance?

Communicate your work hours openly and often. I tell my team that I won’t be checking emails or chats once I log out of my computer so if there’s an emergency outside of my regular work schedule, they need to call me. Building in that buffer has caused them to think twice (“Is it an emergency?”) before reaching out.

I also send the message more subtley when I log out at the end of the day, saying goodbye in our shared chatroom and noting that I’ll see everyone back at 6 AM the next morning. Rather then saying, “Reach out if you need anything,” on Friday afternoons, I say, “Roger will be on call this weekend if any emergencies pop up!”

Explain your meeting preferences, like blocking out a proper lunch break or avoiding early morning calls. Most managers will appreciate being able to support you to do your best work.

Also, speak up when workload expectations don’t fit within normal hours. Although remote working sometimes lends itself to greater flexibility, it doesn’t mean available all the time! Clear communication can help prevent misunderstandings before they become issues.

How can I stay productive during the day and still have energy left for family, friends, or hobbies?

Focus on your most important task during your peak energy hours. Get the hard stuff done when you’re fresh so you’re not drained by evening.

Consider using time blocking to batch similar tasks together. This approach to time management has been shown to reduce the mental energy spent switching between different types of work.

And while this one can feel counter-intuitive to the world of work, stop working at your planned end time, even if you feel like doing more. Protecting your evening hours ensures you have energy for the people and activities you care about.

Does a flexible schedule actually improve overall wellbeing for remote workers?

A flexible schedule can help you (1) work when you’re most productive and (2) manage personal needs without ramping up stress levels. One of the most popular benefits of remote work is that you can schedule doctor appointments or run errands without taking a full day off.

However, a “flexible schedule” can also mean you feel obligated to work any time and anywhere you’re “needed”!

The key is using flexibility wisely rather than working all hours of the day. When you control your schedule, you can match work tasks to your energy levels and make time for self-care and personal interests.

Research shows that remote workers with flexible schedules report higher job satisfaction and fewer mental health issues. The freedom to design your day reduces stress levels and helps prevent burnout when managed properly.

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