Pre-COVID, we perceived remote work as a privilege. Something for the happy few. Now, it feels like a non-negotiable. Especially for some jobs and sectors.
While it offers enormous flexibility and freedom, remote work comes with a few significant challenges such as effective time management and the struggle to unplug after hours.
As a remote worker, you probably relate to how blurry the lines between work and personal life have become. How often do you find yourself working beyond your designated hours? Did you feel that same urge when you were working at the office? Or is this phenomenon really only remote work related?
Perhaps there are 2 types of remote workers: those who need clear boundaries to thrive and those who comfortably blend work and life. If you find yourself working beyond designated hours even in an office setting, you’re more likely to be that second type of worker.
Nevertheless, let’s discuss some tips to set clear boundaries. Because we all need them sometimes.
The Need for Clear Boundaries
For remote workers who thrive on structure, clear boundaries between work and personal life are a necessity. In the traditional office environment, the commute marks the start and the end of the workday. A natural separation between professional and personal lives.
In a remote work setting, this separation is harder to maintain. Without the physical cues of leaving an office, it becomes easy to let work hours creep into personal time. And at one point you may find yourself checking emails late at night or taking work calls during dinner.
Here are a few tips to combat this:
- Set strict schedules: block out your work hours in your agenda. So that colleagues clearly see when you’re available.
- Book your 'me time' and breaks in your professional calendar as well. You no longer have an excuse to skip lunch or stay online late in the evening.
- Create a dedicated workspace within your home. Mimic closing the office door to mentally 'clock out' when the workday ends.
- Use your commute time to create other healthy habits. Why not go for a morning walk instead of commuting? Or try some meditation to start your day?
Honestly, my dog is my best colleague. Asking for at least 3 walks a day, he monitors my work day. And he makes sure I don’t skip lunch. So, if a dog can bring structure to a working day, you can for sure find something that works for you as well.
The Blend of Work and Life
Perhaps you find yourself on the other end of the spectrum: you embrace the blending of work and life. And you love the flexibility that remote work gives you. You see no issue with taking a break to run an errand or attend to personal matters during the day, only to catch up on work later in the evening. Work and life are not separate entities but intertwined aspects of their daily routine.
If this blend feels liberating for you, go for it! You probably have a high tolerance for ambiguity and can manage stress without needing boundaries.
However, this approach isn't without its challenges. Without clear boundaries the risk of overworking is high. The constant accessibility to work can lead to a sense of always being 'on'. And that’s exhausting!
The key to making this approach work is to be conscious of your limits and to set informal boundaries:
- Decide not to check work messages after a certain hour or ensure weekends are work-free.
- If you don’t have the discipline to follow your rules, use your smartphone’s functionalities to decide on focus and screen time.
- Communicate about your informal boundaries. Allow others to keep you accountable for the rules you set for yourself.
The Choice of Boundaries and the Role of Stress
Ultimately, the decision to maintain strict boundaries or allow a blend of work and life comes down to your personal choice. And what works best for you.
Neither approach is inherently better than the other. Both have their pros and cons. As long as you don’t fall for the gray area in the middle: being 'on' all the time without allowing you to take a break during the day.
What matters is how well you can manage the stress that comes with a chosen approach. And how others respect your chosen approach.
Tips for Harmonizing Teamwork Across Different Work-Life Balance Styles
How, how do you work effectively with your remote colleagues who have different approaches to the work-life blend?
- Communicate clearly: establish open lines of communication about work expectations and availability. Share your preferred working hours and ask your colleagues to do the same so everyone is aware of when to expect responses. Personal manuals, anyone?
- Respect boundaries: If a colleague prefers strict work hours, avoid reaching out to them outside of those times unless it's urgent. Similarly, understand that those who blend work and life might respond at non-traditional hours, but it doesn’t mean you’re expected to do the same.
- Set shared expectations: As a team, agree on deadlines and meeting times that accommodate everyone’s working style. This ensures that work progresses smoothly without forcing anyone to compromise their approach to work-life balance.
- Use collaboration tools wisely: Shared calendars, project management software, and asynchronous communication platforms keep everyone in the loop without requiring immediate responses. This allows each team member to contribute according to their preferred schedule.
- Be flexible and understanding: Cultivate a culture of flexibility and understanding. Different approaches to work-life balance enhance team creativity and productivity by bringing diverse perspectives and solutions.
- Regular check-ins: Discuss how the team is functioning and whether adjustments are needed. Address any friction early on to allow the team to recalibrate as needed.
Conclusion
In the end, how you manage the intersection of work and life is your choice. One that requires careful consideration of your own needs, preferences, and limits.
By making conscious decisions about how you work and communicating about that, you can create a remote work experience that is both productive and fulfilling, without sacrificing your personal life.