The switch from working in an office to working at home was swift and unexpected for a lot of public sector employees. 

With the pandemic forcing organisations to make their employees work at home in order to lessen the risk of contact in the workplace, the sudden shift has caused a lot of concerns regarding maintaining a good workflow and productivity.

However, one of the biggest concerns that arose during the pandemic was the need for a healthy work-life balance for employees who worked at home. In fact, the 2021 Randstad Employer Brand Research showed that a good work-life balance was the top desire of Australian workers.

This need arose when it was found that most workers had a hard time establishing healthy boundaries between their professional and personal lives. Instead of relaxing after official work hours, some would continue working even until 10 pm. This unhealthy grind then affects other workers, as they are pressured to do the same for the sake of productivity.

While working at home can be seen as beneficial, often due to the flexibility of time to do work tasks, this can lead to faster burnout and decreased productivity. And as more and more Aussies are now working from home, it is important that one should set the right boundaries between work and personal life for the sake of their well-being.

Thus, here are some ways employees who are working from home can do to successfully establish a boundary between their work and their personal life. 

1. Separate your work area from your relaxation area

A dedicated workspace should be made in your home not only to keep you focused on work but to also establish a physical boundary between your work and personal life. This is useful for switching off after working as it allows you to mentally shift from work mode to rest mode.

If you live in a home with limited space, you can still create an area solely for your work. By making sure that the workspace is exclusively for work, you can relax in other areas of your house without subconsciously relating them to your work.

2. Don’t use your work tools in your free time

Aside from establishing a specific location that’s solely for your work, another tip to maintain a healthy work-life balance is to separate your work tools from your personal tools. One example of this is not using your work computer for personal things.

Having a separation between personal and work devices can be very useful in establishing a mental boundary between the two. This will ensure that the concerns and challenges of both your work and personal life don’t overlap with one another.

3. Stay away from work once office hours are over

Do not do overtime unless you absolutely have to. Doing overtime at home can cause long-term stress since you would no longer have time to rest and do other activities. 

When your workday is done, step away from your workspace and do something different. Go out for a walk, watch a movie, do some exercise or do anything that can shift your focus away from work.

4. Make some plans after work

It will be difficult to stay away from work when you’re working at home, so it’s best to plan your after-work activities. Not only will this help you refocus your mind on other activities and shift your mind to “relax mode”, but having plans can also give you a reason for you to leave your work on time.

4 ways to maintain a work-life balance when working at home

With work-from-home becoming more and more common, it is important that one should know the boundaries between their work and their personal lives. Not only can this greatly help with one’s mental health and prevent burnout, but it can also increase productivity and personal workflow. 

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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