Though remote work came into popularity very quickly, it doesn’t look like it’s going away anytime soon. According to a study from Gallup, 7 out of 10 workers in white-collar industries are still working remotely. Beyond that, 4 out of 10 workers reported that they preferred working remotely. Remote work has been a great tool as we’ve dealt with different challenges in the past years, but it can also have a negative effect if you aren’t careful. Working from home can make it hard to create a proper work-life balance. Because of this, remote workers need to be intentional about scheduling breaks for themselves. Here are some ways to be more intentional about self-care while working from home:
Start Your Day Well
How you start your day can be a great way to set yourself up for success and make sure you’re taking care of yourself. The first way to do this is to get enough sleep. The average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep, so make sure you set aside enough time to get the right amount of sleep each day. Giving yourself the right amount of sleep will help you think and function better throughout the rest of your day.
Another simple thing you can do to take care of yourself at the start of your day is have a healthy breakfast. There are lots of options for healthy breakfasts, whether you need something fast or want to sit down and enjoy it. Starting your workday with sustaining food in your stomach is a great way to take care of yourself and feel productive for the rest of your day.
Schedule Breaks for Yourself
No one can work non-stop for long periods of time without it being detrimental to their mental and physical health. Without other people around you taking breaks to remind you to take your own, you may forget and work through the entire day without taking care of yourself. To combat this, schedule consistent break times throughout your workday. Getting in the habit of taking breaks will help you remember to take them in the future. Additionally, you may consider setting alarms and reminders to take breaks to ensure that you aren’t skipping them.
Set a Specific End Time
A lot of the problem with maintaining work-life balance while working remotely is caused by never leaving work mode. This can look like answering emails late at night, taking phone calls on the weekend, or “finishing up one more thing” well after you’re supposed to stop working. To keep yourself from letting work take over your life, set a specific time to stop work every day. Like with scheduling breaks, the habit of stopping at the same time each day can help you remember to switch out of work mode. Leaders of remote employees should encourage and support this to keep remote employees from burning out.
Allowing yourself time for self-care as a remote worker is essential to your mental and physical health. Share these tips with your remote employees and encourage employees to give them a try.