How to make work from home work for you

There are many benefits to working from home, not least the flexibility it offers and the positive impact it can have on your quality of life. But for home-working to work, you need to have a set routine.

The brain loves structure and patterns. By sticking to a routine for when you take breaks, when you take lunch and when you finish up for the day, you can reinforce that work-life balance. Of course, there will be days when you might need to alter the schedule, but that’s where the beauty of remote working’s flexibility really shines through.

It’s also important to establish clear boundaries with the other people who live in your home. If you live with someone who also works from home, be sure you both know when the other person needs quiet time. If kids are coming and going, make sure they understand what they can and can’t do during certain times.

The space you work in is important too. Some people will have a spare room where they can set up a home office, but that’s not always possible. If you are limited with space, try to think creatively: could you use a corner in a larger room or that space under the stairs? If your workspace is in your bedroom or a common room, consider adding a room divider to mark out your work zone. Make the space your own by adding plants or art that will brighten your day. 

Without the hubbub of the office giving you a sense of the day’s rhythm, or colleagues popping to your desk to ask you to go for a coffee, it can be easy to forget to take small breaks. But they are an important part of the day. For those of us who are sitting for most of the day, even just standing up and walking around for a few minutes can help. There are plenty of apps that can remind you to take breaks – even if it’s just a moment to give your eyes a rest.

Some people who work from home can struggle to switch off work mode. “In many ways, working from home has blurred boundaries between work and personal life,” says health and wellbeing expert Dr Fiona Barry. “People working from home often forget to take breaks, or they work into the evenings because they might feel like they need to prove they are being productive. If you’re working from the kitchen table or sitting room, it can be difficult to have a clear separation between work and home. When you’re working in an office, you have the journey home where you can de-stress, but we’re missing that when we’re working from home.”

It’s a good idea, Fiona says, to take some time between finishing work for the day and reconnecting with your home life. Take a walk, listen to your favourite song, do some meditation or some stretches, or just lie down on your bed for a little while. It need only be five minutes, but it can help to mark the transition, and shift your brain out of work mode.

Working from home can also be lonely for some: over a third of remote workers in Ireland said they felt lonelier working from home compared to being in an office. To help ease those feelings of isolation, think about reaching out to other colleagues who are working from home – even virtual chats can help to form connections. Make a point of meeting up with work mates when you can for lunch, or attend work social events. (If there are none scheduled, why not get the ball rolling yourself?) The key is to keep those lines of communication open, even if you’re not physically in the same place.

Everyone is different and will find their own way of working from home. It’s about discovering what works for you. 

If you’re struggling to strike that work-life balance, see what you can learn from our burnout-busting masterclass with life coach Aoife McElwain.