5 Tips for Separating Your Work & Home Life While Working From Home

Working from home is an outstanding way to avoid a tiresome commute and make your schedule more flexible. However, it could be more stressful than the office if you don’t take the right steps. To make the most out of working remotely, you’ll need to separate your home life from your work life. Otherwise, you won’t be able to focus on your job fully or enjoy your time off. Here are some tips to help you compartmentalize work and home.

1. Stick to a Routine

If you usually work regular business hours, keep up the routine. Wake up at the same time, have breakfast and get dressed even if you don’t plan to leave home. You’re more likely to feel like working if you’re not wearing your pajamas.

During the time you would normally spend commuting, you can go for a run or take an online yoga class. That way, you can start your day focused and relaxed. Let your friends and family members know that they shouldn’t interrupt you during work hours unless it’s an emergency, and do your best to ignore distractions. You should also let your workplace know that you won’t respond to e-mails or texts after hours. Even if your home office is only a few feet away from your living room, you should be able to relax and forget about work during your time off.

2. Create a Work Space

Set aside a quiet space where you can do your work without interruptions. Most people need a desk, a computer, a comfortable chair, a connection to Wi-Fi and a webcam for Zoom meetings. When you file your tax return, you can deduct the costs of your home office and any equipment you purchase.

If you try to work at your kitchen table or on your couch, you’ll have more interruptions. It will also be hard not to think about your job if you eat dinner or watch TV in the same room where you finished your last project.

3. Protect Your Work

Online safety is critical for working remotely. Protecting your computer will protect your personal and work information. Your company will stay safe from hackers, and you won’t have to worry about losing your work right before a deadline. It would be a good idea in this case to download vpn to ensure that you are being as safe as possible when working. Cyber criminals are very smart and will do their best to get their hands on documents that you want to keep safe from prying eyes.

4. Avoid Multitasking

If you try to watch your kids or cook dinner while you work, you’re more likely to do a bad job on both tasks. According to Psychology Today, people aren’t truly capable of multitasking. They can switch their attention between two or more tasks, but their brains will have to work harder. This means you can do better when you focus on just one task at a time.

5. Relax Outside

No matter how spacious your home is, spending most of your working and non-working hours there can make you feel claustrophobic. You could even start missing your morning commute. Take a walk one or two times per week during lunch. If possible, spend some time away from home on the days you don’t work. You can go hiking, enjoy a scenic drive or try a new sport. Spending some time away from home also helps you stay active and healthy.

If you can keep work and home separate, working from home will be convenient and efficient. Follow these tips to keep working from home simple and stress-free.