Working from home offers employees the flexibility they now demand. But remote jobs also pose challenges. One of these is disconnection. There's no denying the danger of a blurring boundary between relaxation and working hours. This makes it essential to adopt concrete strategies to avoid falling into a trap that can be difficult to escape. From defining a dedicated workspace to setting up rituals at the end of the day, here's our advice.
Remote jobs: set clear limits
This isn't always the easiest task when you're working from home. Establishing a clear boundary between hours of work and the end of the day can be complicated. To achieve this goal, specific rules need to be put in place. For example, it's a good idea to draw clear boundaries between the work area and the rest of the home. Another suggestion is to dress professionally when you're at work, with shorts and a T-shirt reserved for when the day is over. Adopting closing rituals can also help, such as systematically writing a list of tasks completed to mark the end of the working day.
Prioritizing tasks
Have you heard of the "Eat that frog" technique? It involves identifying the most difficult task of the day and tackling it first. It's an excellent way of freeing yourself from anxiety about it, and increasing your productivity for the rest of the day. It also allows you to end the day on a note of real satisfaction, making it easier to break with the day's work.
Beware of endless meetings
You also need to know how to effectively manage the time spent in meetings, by setting limits (30 mins, 45 mins...) and sticking to them. Prolonged conversations end up being unproductive, to the detriment of other tasks. As a result, you end up extending your remote working day with no real justification other than that you've wasted time.
Create screen-free moments
One eye on the PC, the second on the laptop and the third (yes, we dare) on the smartphone. Except that, at some point, it becomes necessary to say stop. Even for a few minutes during your remote working day. Just enough time to catch your breath and move on. A short session of physical exercise, or a yoga break, can revitalize the body and mind for better concentration once back in front of the screen.
Planning disconnection times
When you decide to disconnect, you have to do it 100%. For those who find it difficult, there are various techniques available. One is the practice of gratitude. What does it involve? Quite simply, it involves taking a few minutes at the end of the day to reflect on the positive moments and achievements of the day. This helps reduce work-related thoughts by allowing you to move on to other things. Ultimately, the practice promotes a better separation between the personal and professional spheres.
Learning to say no
It's not always easy, and some people find it impossible. Yet saying no is essential when it comes to disconnecting so as not to lose control of your schedule. You need to know how to refuse new tasks, but with empathy, so that you can concentrate on existing missions while maintaining good professional relations.
Making the transition as the day draws to a close
To ensure the transition between work and relaxation, a moment of reading, a meditation break or a short walk can help release the stress accumulated during the day and prepare you for a long, well-deserved evening of relaxation.
Continuous adaptation
As you can see, setting clear boundaries when working remotely is crucial to maintaining a balance between professional and personal life. However, these methods are not static and require continuous adaptation to meet the changing challenges of remote working. How about you? How do you plan to implement these strategies in your day-to-day work? What adjustments or new approaches could you explore to improve your work-life balance when working remotely?