When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world in early 2020, remote work online became the new normal. Companies started to find employees to hire for remote positions, and workers preferred applying for work-from-home jobs. Despite COVID-19 not being a significant threat in 2022, both companies and employees are still rooting for a remote or hybrid work model. And why shouldn’t they? Work-from-home benefits organizations and their workers, as they can save time and money and boost overall work productivity.
However, working from home benefits employees in numerous ways.
What Does Work-Life Balance Mean?
Before the COVID-19 became a global pandemic in 2020, around 8% of employees worked from home. Around 260 million people worldwide worked remotely in 2019 before remote working became the new normal. Therefore, the history of the term ‘work-life balance' goes back to the 1980s. However, now as almost half of the world's workforce has remote-jobs, work-life balance has become a commonly-used term. But what do people mean by work-life balance?
Simply put, it means balancing the time you spend on work and other activities. These activities include pursuing your hobbies, enjoying time with family and friends, socializing, and even traveling occasionally. On-site workers have to travel long distances to their workplaces every day, making it difficult for them to participate in other activities.
But is maintaining a work-life balance any easier for remote workers? It depends upon the schedule you follow, as work-from-home allows you to save a lot of time and money that you can use to maintain a healthier work-life balance. However, some reasons like an unhealthy schedule make it challenging for employees to separate their work-life from home-life and achieve the right work-life balance.
In addition, some employees have to make significant changes in their schedule and home environment to cater to their work-from-home requirements. For instance, many employees work from make-shift offices in one corner of their bedrooms. Other work-from-home employees look after their pets or children while tackling a job task. Therefore, it's understandable that maintaining work-life balance can be a challenging for some employees.
Why is a Good Work-Life Balance Important?
Having a life where you can't separate your work from your family life or social time can lead to numerous health issues. Here are some reasons why a healthy work-life balance is essential.
Reduces Stress
A job, where you focus too much on replying to emails, following schedules, or thinking about meetings all the time, can stress you out. According to research, some employees with stressful 9-5 jobs can develop anxiety, and the biggest reason is being unable to maintain a healthy work-life balance. On the other hand, if you stop thinking about work once your work hours are over, you can start the journey to being more mentally and physically healthy.
Boosts Productivity
If you constantly feel stressed, you can't meet deadlines or submit high-quality work, negatively impacting your creativity and productivity. The best way to ace a work-from-home job is to have a better work-life balance that improves your productivity during office hours.
Allows You to Have Better Relationships with Friends and Family
Working all the time without boundaries will just prevent you from spending quality time with your friends and family members. Research shows that some remote employees have reported feelings of loneliness and isolation, and an unhealthy work-life balance might be the primary reason.
On the other hand, a healthy work-life balance allows you to make plans after your office hours, stick to them, and enjoy your time with your loved ones. No more leaving plans because you feel tired due to the long commute or have to work!
Lets You Enjoy Life
Perhaps the biggest benefit of a healthy work-life balance is that it allows you to enjoy your life. Work-from-home employees can save a lot of time they spend on getting ready or traveling to their workplaces, and they can use that time to find a new hobby, join a new social group, or do something they love.
Spending time doing things you love makes you happier, leading to better productivity and less stress. However, it's only possible if you learn to maintain a better work-life balance and don't work after your work hours.
How to Get a Better Work-Life Balance When Working from Home?
Now that you know that work-life balance is crucial to leading a happy, healthy life, the next step is trying to achieve that goal. Here are some ways through which employees can get a better work-life balance while doing a work-from-home job.
Have a Dedicated Workstation
One of the best ways to maintain a healthy work-life balance is to set boundaries; setting a dedicated workstation is the first step to doing that. If you have a spare room, turn it into a home office and only use it during work hours. Keep the room locked after work hours, with all your work-related things, such as files, work laptops, computers, etc., inside.
Set Mental Boundaries
Well, setting physical boundaries isn't enough! You also have to set mental boundaries by not thinking of work-related stuff after work hours. Try to relax as much as possible in your leisure hours and do things that you love. This will keep your mind away from work.
Communicate with Your Employer
Do you think your employer or colleagues expect you to be available even if your work hours are over? Communicate! Tell them that it's negatively impacting your work productivity and mental health. Learn to say ‘No' whenever someone pushes you to work after your designated hours.
Find Remote Work Online with Better Work-Life Balance
RemoteGurus is the world’s #1 remote jobs board, where you can find work-from-home jobs with better working hours, supportive employers, and more flexibility. Moreover, this innovative job platform allows you to apply for work-from-home jobs.
Therefore, sign up for RemoteGurus, and find remote work-from-home jobs that give you a better work-life balance.
About the Author
The author is a career advisor affiliated with RemoteGurus, one of the best platforms to search for work-from-home jobs. She is passionate about creating a work environment where employees can ace their jobs while enjoying their lives.
