Work-Life Balance During COVID
It’s officially been one year since the company I work for had to shut down all offices due to COVID. Today, we are focusing on the “home” in “work from home”. This got me thinking. Over the past year, this virtual working environment has really pushed its way into our personal space. Many people are tired of working and are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of time they are spending in front of a computer and on video calls. However, I think there’s a solution to this blurred line between work and life. We have to set intentions, define our boundaries, and remain consistent in our expectations.
Below are some of my tips…
Come prepared to get things done from 9–5:
Make a list of the tasks you need to get done the night before. I know, most of us don’t really want to think about work the night before we have to go in but trust me on this one, it makes it so much easier to know what you have to get done before the end of the day. Create a list of things that “have to get done” vs what is “nice to get done”. The “have to get done” tasks usually have a deadline of that day and the “nice to get done” tasks keep you ahead of the game for the future. Remember, it’s okay if your “nice to get done” tasks aren’t completed at the end of the day, these can always roll over into another day.
Complete your least desirable tasks in the morning:
Trust me on this one. I have read countless books on CEO’s and they all follow this simple rule. Don’t put off the inevitable, get the tasks you don’t really enjoy doing done in the morning. You will feel that much more accomplished and it will give you the motivation to do the things you enjoy for the rest of the day!
Block time for administrative tasks throughout the day:
Most of us are overwhelmed by the amount of video meetings happening right now. It’s funny to think that even those meetings that could’ve been an email pre-COVID have worked their way into the virtual world. It happens and in order to account for it, make sure to block off a few hours throughout the week where you can focus on administrative tasks you need to get done. Try your best not to book meetings over this time and treat it as if it’s a mandatory meeting.
Set clear expectations on communicating with your team:
Do you prefer to meet in the mornings to come up with a game plan, do you prefer to catch up at the end of the day to see what got done and what’s still on the list? Do you prefer emails, communication tools, texts, calls, I mean the options are truly endless. If you’re not setting a boundary, then I can assure you that your team will try to contact you in whatever way they feel comfortable with and this will get messy. I can’t even imagine getting anything done when your entire team is sending you messages through email, text, call or slack/teams. Whatever time of day and method you decide, remain consistent. Remaining consistent will provide clear expectations and increase productivity with your team.
If you can’t remove home distractions, set clear boundaries:
There are countless distractions now that work has entered our homes. Take parenting for example. It can be pretty distracting to have children in the house while working and especially with schools being closed. It’s important to set clear boundaries for when you have time to play, help with school work, etc. Let your children know you are here if you need them, but you should have very specific times you dedicate to them throughout the day. Maybe it’s a few hours before work or a break during a lunch break. Either way, children need to know and understand that boundaries exist just as they would with their teachers in school. The same goes for running errands, scrolling through social media or doing anything that distracts you from work. Limit these distractions and stick to your limitations.
Set a time that you sign off each day:
Setting a specific time that you need to get everything done reduces the amount of time you spend procrastinating throughout the day. I get it, sometimes things come up after 5 PM and you need to be online to complete tasks later into the day. However, if your assistance is not required or you do not have a deadline that day, close your laptop and come back to it with a fresh mind the next day. The more you respect your own time the more others will respect it as well. Trust me, the work will still be there tomorrow.
Try to get away from a screen when you’re not working:
Most of our time is spent behind a screen working all day. Be mindful of how you spend your time outside of work. Going for a walk or doing anything outside and getting a little bit of fresh air throughout the day can be a great way to refresh your mind. The constant stimulation of sitting in front of a laptop screen or on your phone has become super addicting. Break the cycle of technology addiction in whatever way feels right for you whether that’s exercising outside, reading a book, meditating, etc. Doing this will give you the time to slow down, focus on what needs to get done, and this will allow you to come back to work with a fresh perspective.
By implementing and sticking to these simple tips, you will start to see a huge difference in your ability to separate work life from home life. Setting these clear boundaries and remaining consistent will take the stress off of always having to be “on”. Lastly, refreshing your mind by getting some fresh air or doing some physical activity when not working will give you the motivation to come back and get things done when the appropriate work time comes around again.
