5 ways to separate your work and personal life

While most of us were happy with the idea of working from our homes when the pandemic first broke out, the situation isn't the same today. People have actually started missing working from office as the work-life balance at home has become virtually nonexistent for most of us. If your day begins and ends with your laptop as you continue to take your tea and coffee breaks at your desk, welcome to the club. For most people, the work-from-home concept has transitioned from working in their own space in PJs to yawning at the laptop screens, as the productivity slips away.

5 ways you can transition from home to work easily

Eight months into the pandemic and there are already plenty of helpful articles floating online, which lay the emphasis on ‘building a routine’ for your work from home schedule. It is said that when you clock-in and clock-out at a designated time (or at least try to) and take regular breaks in between (just like you would do at your workplace), it may help you feel more balanced and productive. However, if setting up a routine seems a bit too much for you, we are listing down 5 ways you can transition from home to work easily.

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01/ ​Understand your trouble area

Whether it is switching on your laptop as soon as you wake up or trouble disengaging with your work even after the end of the day, we all know our weak points when it comes to switching gears. Understanding your challenges and working on them will help you transition between your personal and professional life easily.

02/ ​Step up alarms to remind you to take a break

Unlike your workplace, there is no physical separation that tells your brain that you are actually at work, so it is quite likely that you avoid taking any breaks. When you don’t disengage with your work, you may actually feel like you are working 24 into 7, something which can be quite exhausting. Instead of waiting to finish your work, schedule alarms throughout the day to remind you to get off that chair. You can go for a walk, call a friend, fill up your water bottle or just do 10 minutes of meditation during your break time.

03/ Try and keep your workstation away from your bedroom

When you sleep and work in the same room, it actually takes away restfulness and comfort associated with your bedroom. When you keep your laptop and other work-related material outside your bedroom, it helps your brain associate sleep and relaxation with the bedroom. Otherwise, you may start feeling like you are always at work, even when you are not working on your laptop.

04/ ​Set specific rituals for every single day

Whether it is reading for 30 minutes, catching up an episode of your favourite series or gardening for 30 minutes, specifying what you will do in your break time, will actually help you take a break. Again, setting up alarms and timers come handy in ensuring that you do not lose track of time and get back to your work.

05/ Acknowledge that it is HARD and give yourself some credit

Ultimately, you need to understand that you are not working from home under normal circumstances. There is a pandemic ravaging the world and in addition to your work and household responsibilities, you have to ensure your own safety (and of the people you love). As we continue to stay cooped up inside our homes, remember creating a healthy work-life balance is not easy. On days, it will all come crashing down and on days, you will wrap up your work on time, while cooking a healthy meal for yourself. No matter what happens, give yourself some credit as you continue working under unprecedented circumstances and renewed pressure from work.

from LifeStyle