One of the biggest perks of remote work is greater flexibility. With the ability to work remotely, employees can take advantage of this by working from home and creating a flexible schedule to take care of work and personal responsibilities. But with this flexibility sometimes comes increased pressure. If you’re working non-traditional hours, or if you’re not getting in facetime with your teammates every day, you might feel pressure to spend more time online and working than you otherwise would in the office.
Without coworkers around to remind you to take breaks, eat lunch, and leave the office for the day, remote workers might find themselves working additional hours, and not having as much free time as they otherwise would. Achieving a good work-life balance while working from home can be challenging. It takes careful thought and planning. When we think of work-life balance, we often think of both being in perfect harmony, with equal hours spent on both sides.
However, a view this literal is unrealistic and bad for our mental health. It will only leave you feeling incredibly overwhelmed and unaccomplished. We need to redefine work-life balance while working from home. The first thing you need to realize is that work-life balance while working from home is more of a juggle or a blending of both aspects of our life. It will look different for each of us and could change on a daily basis.
It will contrast drastically if you are single, married, or have kids at home all day. It varies so much between us because we lead such individual lives, and we all have our own unique priorities. How you distribute your time between professional and personal obligations, can have a great impact on your productivity and overall wellbeing. When someone has a good work-life balance, they’re able to allocate their time so they don’t overwork and can focus on other aspects of their life like family, friends, hobbies, or social activities.
Poor work-life balance negatively impacts your health and happiness. You become more stressed and feel less in control at work and in your personal life. Those who have a good work-life balance are often happier and less stressed. When you’re happier you’re more likely to be more motivated, productive, and do better work. Wellness has six dimensions, and each contributes to our quality of life. They are interrelated and sometimes overlap each other. If you lose one or neglect for a time, it might have an effect on your overall health.
1. Physical
Physical wellness includes a variety of activities that are beneficial to the human body. It is an umbrella of healthy habits that include adequate exercise, a proper diet, and separating yourself from vices or bad habits (drug and alcohol abuse). There are ways in which you can have fun attaining these. You may find workout videos suitable for your body or weight goal, satiate yourself with hearty breakfast meals, or if you are busy, appreciate ready-to-eat healthy meals. Find the fun in things and look for options that interest you to start your physical wellness journey.
2. Emotional
The emotional dimension is often hard to balance as this regularly fluctuates depending on your mood, feelings, and the status of the other dimensions. You might find that remote work can be monotonous or dull sometimes and it can lead to frustration. It is okay to feel that way. Acknowledging is key to being emotionally well.
Coping comes next. Get in touch with your thoughts and feelings, choose to have an optimistic attitude, and find ways on how you can boost self-esteem, self-acceptance and social interactions as this can alleviate any feelings of stress. Practice stress management techniques and learn how to forgive yourself.
3. Intellectual
The intellectual dimension allows you to be creative and improve mental and cognitive abilities. The mind, the same as the body, should be exercised as well to keep it healthy. Remote workers, just like any individual, need lifelong learning. This can also keep oneself updated and improve their skills.
For this, you may take a crash course on a subject field of interest or learn a foreign language. You can also pursue a new hobby inclined to the arts. At work, maybe you can find innovative ways to finish your tasks at a quick pace or learn new tools that you can incorporate into your daily job function. The possibilities are endless.
4. Social
Social wellness involves your social skills. It is your ability to interact with your community and share your thoughts and feelings with others to build a sense of belongingness. Practice this at work by making an effort to make a small chat with your colleague and get involved with social activities that your company initiates.
Improving your communication skills goes a long way, it can foster good relationships and also build a strong support system that you can lean on to when times are rough. The social dimension also requires you to be conscious of yourself, so self-care needs to be in place too. Start with a good skincare routine and commit to it, this can help boost your self-esteem.
5. Spiritual
Spiritual wellness allows for peace of mind, tranquility, and serenity. This can also provide focus and clarify your mind’s mental state so that you can see a direction to your goals and plans. Spend and enjoy your time alone and meditate regularly. Practice relaxation techniques and breathing exercises. Release yourself from its shell and appreciate the freedom to express yourself.
6. Environmental
The environmental dimension can help decrease your cortisol levels and lower your blood pressure, therefore, sparing you from stress. Such relief can also be found from doing socially responsible environmental activities like adopting a pet or planting a tree in your backyard. You can also grow an herb garden in your kitchen.
Studies revealed that a few minutes of interacting with the earth’s flora and fauna can alleviate any forms of stress and therefore can significantly impact our emotions, reduce amounts of anger and fear. When you are free from negative energy, you can expect yourself to perform well with high motivation and enthusiasm.
Conclusion
As you may have noticed, these dimensions encompassed all the requirements of your physical, mental and spiritual well-being. The full integration of these dimensions can lead to an improved quality of work and life balance. You are ought to start finding your balance today.
