2020 was a year that put millions of people on their couches. Lots of people lost their jobs, but many others found themselves working from home. Settling into new work routines was incredibly challenging for lots of people. Kids were home when they wouldn’t usually be, childcare was either unavailable or closed, and many of the usual resources of home and family life were not around. Parents often, in addition to whatever regular jobs they had, also had to supervise school for their children. 

Now, many folks are back in their original offices. But some companies are taking another look at allowing people to work from home. There’s tons of articles on every aspect of office life, but there’s a strong element that often gets left out of working-from-home tips. Boundaries.

When you travel to an office location and leave at the end of your work day, there is a very clear line between ‘work’ and ‘home’. Even if you take calls or answer emails when you’re away from your job, most of your attention is still on the ‘home’ side of the ledger. Working from home can make you feel very unsettled. Your concentration isn’t as good for your job, and your kids and spouse feel like they’re not getting the normal amount of attention. Before the arguments and hurt feelings come into play, set some boundaries to make everyone as happy as can be. Plus, once you set your boundaries, you’re giving your family a clear exchange. If they give you this time, and this space, the rest of the time you’ll be available. 

Lean into routine

Make sure you allow yourself adjustment time as you move into a home work space. Human beings are very much creatures of routine, and no matter how careful you are in creating your new environment, it’s not what you had in the past. Allow yourself to settle in, take a look at what you’re doing and see if it’s working for you. Maybe you need to rearrange things. That can mean everything from an order of tasks to the set up of your workstation. Anything and everything can be the key to making you more comfortable and setting up right. Your family and pets may need some adjustment time as well. If they’re not used to having you in reach, they may take some time to understand that they need to give you space during your working hours. 

Designated Work Space 

Whatever this looks like for you, during work hours this is your space. It’s tempting to work from a couch or other sort of comfy furniture, but this can be a trap. Your mind and body associate the couch with relaxation, so the confused signals can make it very difficult for you to work at a good pace. There’s nothing wrong with being comfortable, but don’t let it throw you off. Try to find a table or other space that isn’t paired in your mind with Netflix binges. A kitchen table or counter, or perhaps a basement space, or other area that you don’t spend most of your home time in. Don’t go too far the other way either. If you’re not comfortable wherever you’re working, things will be harder as well. Make sure that you have good lighting and ventilation, an internet connection if you need one all the time. If you don’t have a good space all the time at home, you can also work mobile if needed. Many popular restaurants have wifi these days, and stepping outside the house can be a nice break if you’re feeling a little cabin fever. Remember that there are no real limitations on the way you can work, as long as you’re getting everything done and not harming yourself. 

Set Work hours

This may seem like a pretty silly thing for you to worry about, but it’s important. We’ve all had that one project that’s taken longer than we expected, or a client ask you want to be sure and get back to them as soon as possible. It’s a completely understandable desire, and you should of course do your best for them. But, it’s also completely possible for your job to consume your life and burn you out. One work hour one day, leads to two hours the next day, and so on. That’s less time away from the job and with your family or friends. Without this critical boundary, it’s very easy to find yourself right back to the arguments I mentioned earlier. Your mental and emotional health are a critical part of doing well at your job. The more ‘job creep’ you experience, the easier it is to get far out of balance, and make yourself very unhappy. If you’re used to long hours in a regular office, remember that working from home gives you the opportunity to start anew and make healthier choices that will make you better at your job. And better for your loved ones and personal life as well. 

Quitting Time and Weekends Off

Depending on your industry, this can sound like a very foreign idea. Sometimes people want you to be on call 24/7, and that’s neither healthy nor necessary. Or maybe you’re just used to being always available. Quitting time dovetails with the idea of having business hours above, but it’s most important for you, rather than the people you work with. When projects stretch long, or it’s been a day with distractions, it’s very easy to keep working on into the night. Many people will feel that they have to finish a project completely before they can stop. Or they have to reach a certain point, or perhaps even that they “might as well’. Well, don’t! Stick to your quitting time even if you don’t want to. Forcing yourself to have a defined end to your day is better for you and your home life, as well as making sure that you can go back to work tomorrow in a better head space. And when it comes to weekends off, this is doubly true. Many people these days don’t have much time or energy for cleaning or chores on the weekday. It’s totally understandable the rise in meal kits and food delivery has paralleled these trends. Make sure you cordon off your weekends for time full of whatever you need to do away from work. You can create exceptions if you want to for these situations, but make sure that you do it cautiously. 

Self Care is essential

Working from home is both a blessing and a challenge. In addition to the above boundary ideas, make sure that you also give yourself a little time away from the desk. Walk around the block every so often, or at the very least give yourself a good stretch and shake out your limbs. Sitting down for too long isn’t very good for your body, and a little shake up will keep you alert and working for longer. Stay hydrated, and don’t be afraid to think outside the box when coming up with your perfect work space. Discipline is at the heart of any good work, and creating boundaries for your work life are a great exercise that can make your whole life better.