While plenty of us are headed back into the office, COVID proved to our employers that flex time and working from home are doable. We’re still productive at home!
Working from home can be a great way to juggle work and family responsibilities. However, it can also come with its share of challenges. While many of us figured out some strategies during COVID, there’s always room for improvement. Here are some tips you might not have tried yet.
Set A Schedule And Stick To It
One of the most important things you can do is set a schedule that works for your lifestyle and stick to it. I use Calendly so clients can book sessions with me without the back and forth. Once booked, Calendly sends them a confirmation email and calendar invite. Then, they get friendly reminders (along with the Zoom link) 1 hour and 5 minutes ahead of their appointment.
When creating your schedule, make sure you factor in breaks throughout the day, time for meals, and some time for yourself as well! I’ve done pretty well with this. I don’t offer sessions before or after the kids go to school. But I need to carve out time for lunch, so I need to improve my calendar.
Create An Office Space
Having an office space separate from the rest of the house is essential in helping to establish boundaries between work and home life. Whether it’s a spare room or just a corner of the living room, having an area dedicated solely to work will make it easier for you (and your family) to differentiate between when you’re available for work vs. when you should be spending time with them.
Right now, I’m using a spare bedroom that’s usually my mom’s bedroom when she visits from the Philippines. When she returns in May, I have a second workstation in the finished basement or book a shared work desk in my town’s co-working space.
Always create a plan A, B, and even C. Having a designated workspace will also help keep distractions at bay so that you can stay focussed on getting tasks done quickly and efficiently.
Communicate With Your Family Members
If you have young children, teenagers, or other family members living with you, they must understand your expectations when working from home.
Some parents jokingly tell their young kids not to interrupt them unless “someone is bleeding or you need to call the ambulance.” This isn’t funny! If your kids are too small to take care of themselves, set up a play station in your office and take frequent breaks. If you can hire a helper, do so.
Share your calendar with your family so they know when you’re unavailable. And communicate to your spouse or partner the nights they need to prepare dinner so you can come out of your office with food ready to go when you’re tired after a long day.
Conclusion
Working from home can offer flexibility but unique challenges—especially when trying to maintain a healthy balance between work and family life. By setting up a schedule, creating an office space, and communicating clearly with family members, entrepreneurs can find success in managing both their professional lives as well as their ones while working remotely! Ultimately, this balance ensures that everyone feels supported while allowing each person to pursue their professional goals without feeling overly stressed or overwhelmed by either side of their lives.
Would you like to talk about this? Please reach out and book a free consulting session with me. I’m happy to speak with you!