One thing that makes remote work so attractive for many people is the flexibility that it allows. However, without clear boundaries, people who work from home often allow work to creep into the time that should be reserved for relaxation, family, and other personal needs. On the flip side, some remote workers find that they have trouble keeping their personal lives from interfering with their work and affecting their work performance. Creating and maintaining effective boundaries between work and the rest of life is essential as you manage your schedule.
One of the challenging aspects of remote work is establishing boundaries and then communicating them to your team and manager in a positive way. Here are some ways to do that:
Know your manager's expectations. Talk to your manager regularly about work expectations and confirm what is needed in terms of goals and productivity. Set up regular meetings with your manager to ensure that you stay current with team needs.
Use technology to your advantage. Technology can work wonders but sometimes it can seem like emails, voicemails, texts, and instant messages are controlling your life. But if you can make an effort to use these technologies wisely—such as Zoom for virtual communication and SharePoint for file sharing—they will work for you.
Plan your workday. Just as you would in the office, make a to-do list to help keep you on track but make sure it’s realistic. And as long as you’re responding to colleagues and clients in a timely manner, you can decide to allow yourself blocks of uninterrupted time to focus on important work.
Talk to family members about minimising distractions. Make sure that all members of your family understand and respect that even though you're home, you're working. You may want to set some guidelines, like agreeing that you're only to be disturbed if there's an emergency or determining who will answer the door or phone when you're working. If possible, have a separate workspace and even a schedule for family members to be clear on when you are working and when you aren’t.
You may want to talk to colleagues and friends who work remotely, as they may have tips to share. Here are other suggestions to help you stay focused in your home office.
Establish a workday routine. Many remote workers find that setting and sticking to a regular routine is helpful for maintaining focus. You may want to establish a schedule that's similar to one you’d have if you worked in an office. Begin and end work at the same time each day and take regular, scheduled breaks.
Avoid multitasking. Don't try to get the laundry done or prepare dinner while also working on work tasks that require focus. But do take breaks from work. Many employees who work from home spend more concentrated time working on computers than they would in the office. Taking regular breaks, like getting up to stretch or going for a walk, can actually increase your efficiency and reduce errors.
Assess your home office. Is there enough room for all of the things you need? Do you have the right equipment? Is it physically separate from the activity of your home? Is it quiet enough for you to concentrate? Is your office ergonomically correct? Any of these things can affect your ability to focus. Your company may have guidelines and even consultants to help you with this.
Get organised. Make a list of all the things you need in your home office, including files, equipment, and supplies, and think about what you'll need for specific projects—anything that you’d have available if you were at the office. When you have everything you need, you'll find it easier to focus on your work.
Once new remote workers master the basics and cope with distractions and focus, the opposite problem—overwork— can set in. There are many reasons why people overwork when they work outside of the office, including:
If you're not sure whether you're maintaining a healthy balance between work and life, ask yourself:
It's easy to let things slide by working a little later than normal "just this once," or answering calls or emails during your off-duty time. If you are having trouble turning work off, it's important to come up with a plan to create and maintain a separation between your home and your work. You can do that by establishing schedules, rules, and routines as outlined above.
While you may not be able to solve all the problems of boundaries and distractions at home, keeping these strategies in mind will help you to be a contributing and supportive member of your team and your family.