How to Regain Work-Life Balance: Reestablish Boundaries in the Remote Work Era
When we were first hit with the news that we’d all be working remotely, there was an initial rise in hope around how much glorious time would be recouped from no longer sitting in traffic or hastily running from door to door. People were professing their new workout routines, online courses, and books they were now able to read during the time they normally spent commuting. Initially, it seemed like a win for most of us, until you start to consider your work life boundaries.
Now 10 weeks later, it’s clear that recouped commute time is now being sucked up by a major loss in work life boundaries. Research is showing that the average employee is now working 2-3 more hours a day and not taking time off to recover. That’s 12 extra hours a week, 48 hours more a month!
People are stressed out, burnt out, feeling guilty, not sure how it got so extreme, and how to go back to “normal” (if that even exists).
As a workplace culture consultant, I partner with companies of all sizes to help them create environments where people can thrive. And these fuzzy work life boundaries of when you’re working and what you’re not has become extreme. Many people who have a job feel like they have to blur these lines out of fear that they may become a part of that increasing percentage of Americans who are unemployed. They are grateful to have a steady income and willing to compromise their wellbeing to keep it that way. Fear is a powerful ruler.
When we stopped having to physically come and go to work, we lost a natural boundary of “I’m working” and “I’m not working”. Other obligations, like taking your kids to practice or being on time to your board meeting, give you a reason to have to go. And now that those reasons no longer involve a commute, our brains are getting trapped in the non-stop go-go-go mode.
For many of us, our commutes were actually some of the best “me time” we’d get all day! It was time to listen to books on tape, our favorite radio shows, music, or podcasts. Some even used the time to regularly check in on a loved one. It was this wonderful opportunity to “couple” something you had to do with something you wanted to do.
And whether it was 10 minutes or 2 hours, that commute was a signal in our brain and body that it was time to transition in or out of work mode.
So, how can we reset our work life boundaries to regain our sense of well-being while also being productive?
Perhaps one of these three work life boundaries ideas will spark your ability to log on and off in a way that serves you and everyone in your world.
- Start + End the day with a walk. Used to use your commute to listen or talk to someone/thing you loved? Take yourself on a walk (or a bike ride, or even a drive to get tea) that will create a habit of transitioning from one experience to the next and reignite that feeling of ramping up and off your workday.
- Change Your Clothes. This may seem silly to some, but most of us can relate to days of the corona mullet: business on top, party on the bottom (think: blazer + PJ pants). When we change our clothes, it triggers a change in our mindset. While I’m not saying to go full suit mode here, I am saying that a simple change from jeans from 9-5 to sweatpants after hours can train you to be in a different headspace.
- Set an Alarm. You likely don’t need an alarm to start the day, but perhaps you could use one to end it? And just like you may in the morning, the snooze button still applies. If you’re able to get fancy with it, how about making your alarm a favorite song that ignites a sense of happiness, calm, or even silliness? Like who doesn’t want to end their day listening to their favorite tune? Setting a closing time alarm can be a loving reminder that it’s time to shift.
At the core of all these tips are simply habit hacks to help support creating meaningful work life boundaries.
Feeling like these still aren’t enough? Raise your hand, speak up, and ask for help.
If there’s one thing that’s become crystal clear during this pandemic, it’s how overworked, overscheduled, and overwhelmed the majority of us are. We’re in this imaginary hamster wheel that’s labeled as success and justifies putting our health last.
When we value ourselves, we value our time off just as much (if not more) than our time on the clock.
