How To Protect Your Hybrid Work-Life Balance

Image credit: Ken Tomita from Pexels

Not so long ago, professionals from various industries forecasted that hybrid work would be the future of work. It looks like these predictions came true as more and more businesses left their office-first, 9–5 structures and opted for more flexible working models. 

While this sounds like a win for both employers and employees, it’s not without its drawbacks. The hybrid model sounds so good on paper as it offers flexibility, but the boundaries between work and personal life are often blurred once you make your home your new office space. 

Things that mattered to you before, like your downtime and family time, can easily be interrupted by work and more work. 

If you’re looking for ways to establish a clear line between work and personal life, we’ve got you covered! Read on below for some tips on how you can work as productively as possible without getting burned out. 

Set Up Clear Boundaries At Work
When on a hybrid work setup, always state which days you’ll be working from home and which days you’ll be at the office. Your team should be aware of the times you’ll be available to work each day.

Even if your schedule is more flexible, be explicit about when you'll be online or offline each day. Set your status on the communication tool you use to notify coworkers when you need to leave the office to pick up the kids or go to a gym class. 

Another way to do this is by finding a dedicated spot around your house to work, preferably one whose door can be shut. Choosing the right workspace is a crucial task when working from home. Not only will it ensure privacy, but it will also help separate work life from home life.

Be Intentional With Your Breaks
Schedule brief breaks throughout the day to keep you motivated. Spend time doing something you enjoy or grabbing something good to eat. You can even do some light stretching or exercise.

Alternatively, you can do some easy home care tasks like booking a laundry service, cooking an easy, nutritious, and delicious meal, or washing the dishes. 

When you have a break to look forward to, it will be easier to stay motivated and focused throughout work hours and lessen the need for frequent, impromptu breaks that can disrupt your flow and hinder your productivity. 

Don’t forget to give yourself some breathing room in between meetings! Grab a glass of water before your next call.

Schedule Your Focus Time Periods
Focus time is often so undervalued. However, creative and cognitively challenging tasks often call for complete focus and as few interruptions as possible. 

What you can do is set up periods in your calendar app for focused work so that your coworkers will be aware of your schedule and know when to not bother you with emails and meetings. 

During focus time, make an effort to give the task you're working on your complete attention. 

Once you’re done with your tasks for the day, turn off your work computer, any work-related notifications on your phone, and even the work-related part of your brain. Leave everything, including work-related messages, voicemails, and emails, unanswered. They can all wait until it's time to log back on! 

Dedicate A Browser For Work
If you don’t have a dedicated PC or laptop for work, consider keeping all of your work-related logins in a separate browser from the one you use for personal internet browsing. After work, switching between your personal and business browsers can help create a barrier between the two. It’ll also help guard against notifications from shared workspaces, chat, or email that might interrupt your downtime activities. 

On the other hand, if you do have separate computers for work and home, avoid the temptation to log into one from the other—even if you’re just going to quickly check your email. This helps separate work time from personal time. Plus, it also keeps company information secure and your personal information private.

Don't Forget To Use Your PTO
There’s a reason why you’re entitled to paid time off! You deserve it, so you have to use what you’ve acquired rather than letting it accumulate or even expire.

Set aside days off regularly. Don’t hesitate to take a day or so for your mental health whenever necessary. Make travel plans with your friends or family members and stay unplugged from work while you’re out and about. 

Take A Walk
When all else fails and everything’s just getting a little too overwhelming, get up and go outside. Get a fast dose of vitamin D by walking your dog, taking a short stroll around the block, or visiting your favorite park during your lunch break. 

Regardless of what you choose, a simple walk can easily get you pumped and prepared to finish the rest of your to-do list once you go back to your desk.

Enjoy Your Hybrid Work Setup By Striking A Balance
Your time, mental health, and well-being are as precious as ever. The hybrid work setup is great, but you must strike a balance between being productive at work and being present at home. 

While you continue to invest time in the tasks you do for your job, don’t forget to also give yourself more time to focus on your personal life.

For more insightful articles about smarter working, check out Learn Develop Live today!

​Author

Katie Pierce is a teacher-slash-writer who loves telling stories to an audience, whether it’s bored adults in front of a computer screen or a bunch of hyperactive 4-year-olds. Writing keeps her sane (most of the time) and allows her to enjoy some quiet time in the evening before she walks into a room of screaming kids (all of whom she loves dearly) the next morning.