COVID has inarguably reshaped many aspects of our society, but one of the most distinct and wide-reaching changes is to the modern workplace. So many jobs have transitioned to remote settings, and while the kind of solitude and flexibility that comes with this shift can certainly present its own challenges, many workers have found working from home has positively benefited their lives. 

Here are a few tips to maximize the WFH perks to keep that work-life balance perfectly balanced! 

Designate a work space or spaces

While having a full-blown home office may not be realistic for everyone, it is still possible to pick certain places in your home (or out of your home — libraries and coffee shops are also great choices!) to focus on your work! It can be somewhere cozy, like a couch and a mini desk or a patio space or a traditional space like a desk or kitchen table. Figure out where you focus best; it may take some experimenting! However, being specific about work areas helps prevent your entire home from feeling like your office, and allows you to maintain some boundaries so you don’t end up feeling like you live at work.

Establish routines

At the onset of the pandemic, a bunch of media started circulating about treating your WFH day just like a day at the office by still working the same exact hours, and even getting fully dressed in business attire. Now, a lot of workplaces have come around to the flexibility of working remotely — allowing workers to manage their time outside of standard business hours, and relaxing dress code expectations (the Zoom professional from the waist up is quickly becoming the norm!). I am obviously a huge proponent of both loungewear and autonomy over your own schedule, but I also think routines help make sure your priorities are taken care of. Aiming to clock in and clock out at approximately the same time each day is one key way to maximize productivity — both at work and at home. Scheduling lunch breaks and any other work tasks — emails, conference calls, data input, whatever it might be — makes sure they don’t get lost in the flux of a day on our own in your own space. 

Meaningfully multitask, when possible

One of the biggest benefits of working from home is being able to blend your home life into the work day, in moderation of course. This means being able to run a load of laundry in between meetings, answering emails while getting a pedicure, or participating in a conference call and taking a walk at the same time. Now I’m not advocating from indulging in a Netflix binge during a one-on-one with your boss or scheduling a lengthy appointment when coworkers might need you, but if you’re able to take care of some of that “life” stuff while working, you absolutely should! The full time work day already is challenging enough, so reclaim your time when you can! It’ll help you be a happier person and employee over all. 

Repurpose that commute time

Finally, working from home means your commute is now reduced to the time it takes you to get out of bed and log onto your computer! You now have anywhere from ten minutes to two hours returned to you — time that you previously spent stuck in traffic or navigating public transit, and time that you can now use for something future you will thank you for! 

Build in some self-care routines to replace the time you used to spend traveling to and from work. Get some exercise, read or journal, or indulge in some bigger health services. An IV appointment, for example, is perfect for the remote worker because we can come to you! Hydrate and feel amazing without even having to update your Slack status. 

What have been some of your favorite parts about working from home?