In a remote environment, you need to set boundaries

Remember when remote work was thought of as a luxury and was reserved for a few lucky professions and snow days? Things changed drastically in 2020, to say the least! Working from home has become the new norm, and things likely aren’t going to change anytime soon. Which is probably why you are reading this blog post on how to set boundaries while working from home… (wink face)

Maybe this is something new for you, or maybe it’s something you’ve been doing for a while now.

Working from home can be a huge benefit, allowing you to skip the commute, toss a load of laundry in during the middle of the day, and save money when it comes to lunch and coffee. Many people also say they’re more productive working from home, as there are no workplace distractions.

But there is one thing to be aware of when it comes to working from home, and that’s learning how to set boundaries.

The upside and downfall to remote work is that you’re just a few steps away from ‘the office’ at all times, creating unexpected stress and the need to work constantly. Many people who find themselves in this situation report feelings of burnout and unhappiness.

If you’re finding yourself in the same situation right now, you need to set boundaries for yourself. You’ll be amazed at how it allows you to work less, accomplish more, and experience an increased sense of happiness and well-being.

You can accomplish more while doing less

Do you find yourself working 24/7? Do you think that’s actually allowing you to get more done and stay on top of things, or could your work actually be suffering as your priorities outside of work suffer as well?

Here is our list of 3 simple steps in order to set boundaries for your work-from-home life.

Step 1. Create a list of priorities

Think you already know what your priorities are? Do this exercise anyway! We bet you’ll learn something about yourself in the process.

Grab a pen and some paper and number from 1-5. While you do that, begin to think about your priorities. Maybe number one is your family. Or maybe it’s yourself. It’s possibly even time with friends or taking care of a loved one.

Zoom out from work and rank your daily priorities on this list.

Maybe your list is…

1. Myself
2. My family
3. My job
4. …

Notice in this example, work is 3rd. This means you have 2 priorities ahead of work. Are the boundaries that you have in place reflective of that? Or do you need to set boundaries that do a better job?

Step 2. Look at your calendar

Now that you have your list, actually look at your calendar. 

Your schedule should reflect your priorities, but you’d be amazed at how often people rank themselves and family high on their priority lists, and yet they never save time for either.

We’ll say it again – your calendar is a direct reflection of your priorities, whether you like it or not. If you’re spending all day, every day, working, then that is your number one priority, even if it isn’t like that on your list.

With that said, it’s no wonder so many people feel unhappy and unhealthy in their careers, even if they’re working from home! Their priority lists and calendars are unbalanced, and they need to set boundaries for themselves.

Take some time to look at your calendar and block off time for your priorities, whatever that looks like for you. Then allow work to fill in the gaps. 

Step 3. Don’t compromise

Ready for the hardest step? Do not compromise after you set boundaries! Working from home means there is always work to be done. There will always be another task to do or another email to respond to. And it can be hard blocking that out of your mind when your desk is just a few feet away at all times.

There will always be more you could be doing. Understand that just because it’s there, doesn’t mean it’s urgent or necessary.

Stick to your boundaries and the time blocks on your calendar you create for them.

And, remember to reassess

Ultimately, if you allow work to slowly seep back into the time you’re supposed to be focusing on higher priorities, your work will suffer as your priorities do, and you’ll begin to experience burnout.

You’d be amazed at how a single off-day at work can throw off the work-from-home boundaries you create for yourself, so remember to constantly reassess and hold that line for yourself. Your quality of work and your quality of life will thank you for it.

Do you work from home? Do you find it hard to step away? Share how you set boundaries for yourself in the comments below.

Looking for more ways to increase your productivity while working from home? Head here: 3 Steps to Manage Your Energy Like a Pro so You Can Increase Productivity & Decrease Your Time at Work.