Many people right now are feeling as though their life revolves solely around work with no separation between work and home. And this is not just about when you stop and start work, it’s also about who you are being and how you feel — many people feel like they’re in work mode all the time.
So, this week I’m looking at how to create structure and boundaries in your day when working from home so that you feel like you have a clear separation again between work and home. Something that will be especially important as we move into Winter with the colder, darker days and further lockdown measures likely, which means we will be spending even more time at home.
In last week’s blog, I discussed creating some kind of fictional commute; this is a GREAT way to create boundary markers around when you officially start and end work mode. It’s a transitionary period between work and home that has been lost when we’re no longer going to the office. But you can recreate this for yourself even if you’re not actually going from point A to B!
There are also a number of other key ways you can create some separation whilst working from home so that you hopefully feel a palpable difference between when you are working and when you’re not:
Clothing
Change out of your work in the evenings. Most people changed out of their work clothes into something more casual or comfortable when they got home from the office, so you can do the same thing whilst at home. On the flip side, if you’re now wearing more casual clothing because you’re working from home, dress up a little more for work — this is another way to make a clear distinction between being at work or home. Years ago, I remember a freelancer I used to work with telling me how she always dressed up and put her shoes on when she was in work mode at home and it completely shifted her energy and productivity.
So, if you’re wearing slippers or lounge socks and sweatpants whilst working at home, try wearing what you would if you were going to the office and then change out of those clothes when you log off at the end of the day.
Mealtimes
A great way to boundary your time is by making meal times an event. Rather than eating at your desk whilst working, have breakfast, lunch and dinner (hopefully you’re not working at dinner time anyway unless you’re flex working!) away from your desk, ideally in a different room. Block meal times out in your schedule as you would if you were having a client lunch. And on that note, suggest having video calls with a colleague or client over a virtual lunch. You could even schedule lunch with your partner or housemate so that you have social time away from your desk. At the minimum, schedule breakfast, lunch and dinner because it’s so easy when working from home to allow the time to slip and before you know it, you’re feeling lightheaded and irritable because you’re so immersed in work you’ve left it too long to eat something!
Exercise
Hopefully, you will be exercising every day in some way! But taking time out for yourself to look after your wellbeing through exercise is also a great way to separate yourself from work and home. Getting connected with your body creates a mindful state not to mention all of the physical and emotional health benefits you get from moving your body. If you exercise at the beginning and/or end of the day it also creates a clear boundary marker and transitionary period between work and home.
Workspace
Lastly, you may be lucky enough to have a separate room in your home as an office space. But if not, it’s likely you’re working from your living room, kitchen or bedroom. If you can’t shut the door on work at the end of your day, then do you best to clear everything away when you stop working. Create some kind of filing system whereby you have all of your documents contained in a box or file tray that you can then easily pick up and put in a cupboard or tidy away out of sight at the end of the day. If you have a laptop put it away as well, if you have a monitor you could cover it with a nice throw but at the minimum switch it off!
It’s likely that all of these strategies are going to require a decent amount of discipline because you are now 100% reliant on your own willpower to create and maintain these healthy habits. (Unless you find an accountability partner, which I highly recommend for that very reason!).
I’m reminded of one of my favourite quotes by the late American entrepreneur and motivational speaker, Jim Rohn:
“We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces whereas regret weighs tonnes”
My advice would be to firstly, commit to doing one thing for 30 days and then add in another because if you make too many changes at once it will be too drastic of a change and you’re likely to fall off the wagon completely — you want to set yourself up for success by taking baby steps.
Secondly, do not wait to find the time or to feel like doing these things as it won’t happen! Plan in advance and schedule these things in your diary, this makes being disciplined far easier!
Next week we’ll be looking at how to stay positive and manage your mind during this challenging time as we move through the winter period.
If you’d like some help and accountability in creating better boundaries for yourself with your working from home set-up and routine so that you can enjoy both work and home independently, call email or schedule a consultation with me here.
Kate x
