Our theme for April is Working from Home, and because of stay-at-home orders issued in most states, you’re likely getting a sense of doing just that right now. You’re also probably finding out that working from home is not always glamorous and can sometimes be challenging, especially if you are easily distracted or have kiddos running around or demanding your attention. Trust us, even though Team Glitter Guide is fully remote year-round and we love working from home, we know just how difficult it can be. One of the hardest things to achieve as a remote worker is the elusive work-life balance. This work-life balance is so important, as a poor work-life balance can cause stress and negatively impact your overall wellness and state of mind. On the other hand, a good work-life balance can leave you feeling happier and help you to be more productive. Here at Glitter Guide, we’re still striving to achieve the perfect work-life balance and we might never get it just right, but we’ve managed to find a few ways that help us to maintain a work-life balance that works for us.

Here are 5 ways to keep the work-life balance when you work from home:

Set working hours and non-working hours

Working from home means you are not commuting to and from work, so it’s easy to start working before you normally would, and continue working well past normal work hours. If you set working hours ahead of time, you will stay focused on getting your work done during that time frame, and not feel obligated to continue working into the evening and night because of convenience. It’s also important to make sure your team knows your working hours so that they can reach out to you during that time frame and not expect you to respond or complete work outside of those hours.

Have a designated workspace

If you have an empty room in your home, that’s a good place to set up your computer and get to work, but even if you don’t, be sure to create a workspace that not only helps keep you focused on the tasks at hand, but also signals to your significant other, roommate or children that you are working. It’s easy to lounge on the couch with your laptop, but not so easy to stay focused on work when the television is right in front of you. Similarly, you might get distracted if you set up your computer in the kitchen or dining areas, as you might be tempted to cook or snack throughout the day. Regardless of where you decide to work in your home, be sure it’s a place that is free from clutter and as many distractions as possible to ensure that you can be productive and get everything done during working hours. When your workday is over, shut down and clean up your work area so you aren’t tempted to go back to it later.

Take breaks throughout the day

One of the many benefits of working at home is the flexibility, but it can also mean that you might find yourself stuck inside your house for days at a time. Give yourself a break throughout the day by making time to run an errand, exercise, meditate or just simply relax for a few minutes. Everyone needs a mental break at some point during the day, and if you worked in an office, you’d likely take a walk or step outside for a bit for lunch, so be sure to include that in your work-at-home schedule. On that note, be sure to eat a proper lunch to keep you energized and to recharge, but be sure to get right back to work after.

Make after-work plans

This doesn’t necessarily mean planning happy hours or having dinner at a restaurant with family or friends. It can be as simple as scheduling a movie night at home with the kids or enjoying a nice dinner at home with your significant other. Having something non-work-related on the schedule to look forward to helps motivate you to get your work done during working hours, and shut down in time to enjoy something fun after work.

Don’t be tempted to work on the weekends

It’s inevitable that there will be some weekends that you’ll need to finish up some work or catch up on emails, but whenever possible, designate weekends as family or self-care time and resist the urge to do work and/or check work emails. It’s easier said than done, for sure, but if you worked in an office, you’d likely shut down at 5 p.m. on Friday, and not sign in again until Monday. Just because your office is literally your home, it doesn’t mean you should be expected or want to continue your work into the weekend. Plus, family time is precious and self-care is crucial for one’s physical and mental health, so do yourself a favor and take the weekends off to recharge.