| Balance has always been important to me in my life. | | | | includes set work hours for each day. |
| For most people, the balance between work time | | | | 2) Get involved in community or non-work related |
| and personal time is, unfortunately, weighted too | | | | affairs. |
| heavily in the direction of work. It is more common | | | | Try to get involved with non-work related groups, |
| than ever before to have a two-income household | | | | organizations, or volunteer opportunities. Take a class |
| with both parents working just to make ends meet. | | | | at the local adult school on cooking, learn to play a |
| It can be difficult to make time for family and | | | | musical instrument, join a gym, or take part in a book |
| recreation. | | | | discussion club. Make time to socialize and meet new |
| Even if you're not a parent, you probably still find | | | | people, particularly if you live alone. |
| yourself challenged with finding more time for your | | | | 3) Take short breaks. |
| personal life and not being consumed by work. | | | | One of the best advantages of working at home is |
| Surprisingly, many people struggle with taking | | | | that you can usually afford to take a short break at |
| advantage of newfound free time when making the | | | | various points throughout the day. |
| transition to working from home. Without an office | | | | 4) Schedule time for personal things. |
| to go to each day, and the reminder of everyone | | | | Although this may seem like a strange idea - you |
| else going to lunch or leaving for the day, it is easier | | | | may find that when you start working at home you |
| to get "lost" in work and forget to keep time for | | | | often "forget" the time and get caught up in work. |
| yourself. Although working from home has | | | | After all, there are fewer distractions at home. |
| tremendous advantages, it comes with obstacles as | | | | Schedule time for personal things like picnics, reading, |
| well. One of the biggest is not being able to switch | | | | exercise, etc. just as you would schedule a work |
| off. When you walk out of an office at the end of | | | | appointment or phone call. By doing this you make |
| the day you can forget about work (at least some | | | | sure you are building time into your schedule for this |
| people can). At home it's common to feel there's | | | | very important personal time. |
| always a bit more you could do before you call it | | | | 5) Play. |
| quits for the day. Here are some tips to help you find | | | | You will find that if you let your leisure time decrease |
| balance while working at home: | | | | too much, your relationships begin to suffer. Indulge |
| 1) Create a schedule for work time/personal time. | | | | yourself in the freedom this method of working |
| Treat your study, or wherever you work, like a real | | | | brings. It's important not to get so busy that you |
| office. Close the door at 6 p.m. (or whatever closing | | | | forget to take time out to play! |
| time is for you) and don't open it until you are | | | | I hope you will try to implement these tips into your |
| beginning work the next morning. Some people find | | | | work habits and bring greater balance and joy to |
| that it helps them draw a clearer boundary between | | | | your life. |
| work and home life if they create a routine. This | | | | |