6 Tips to Enjoy Your Work

One of the biggest complaints I hear from clients who work from home are the lack of boundaries between home and work.  It’s an important topic as you consider how you want to work and live when we emerge from the pandemic.
 
It’s great to be able to work from your patio or deck (or the cottage) during the summer, but it also “pollutes” those spaces.  Rather than getting the relaxation vibe at work, you may accidentally end up creating a work vibe in your relaxation space.  Not cool.
 
You deserve to enjoy the beautiful spaces you’ve created in your home and life.  Decks, patios, gardens, balconies, etc. all benefit from seasonal spruce-ups (if not redecorating… or am I the only one watching videos on how to design your outdoor living space...).
 
Being able to create these kinds of sanctuaries is one of the reasons you work so hard, but they are useless when you don’t have time to enjoy them.  I LOVE sitting on my deck in the shade, hearing the wind rustling the leaves of the maples we planted with just this scenario in mind.  Our back deck has been a labour of love, and now (many years later), it has changed from a barren sun-burnt lawn to an oasis of calm where I like to spend as much time as I can.  But working from it?  There is a fine line between living to work and working to live and my deck is the boundary.
 
So, how do you enjoy the benefits of working from home and keep your sanctuary too?

Here are some strategies to consider:

• Right space, right task.  Working from your outdoor space is wonderful, but be specific about what parts of your work are appropriate for the great outdoors.  Neighbours and passers-by may be able to hear every word of your video conference and phone calls.  Bright sunlight may mean others can’t see you, even with your video on, and cool breezes feel really nice, but sound terrible through your microphone. Opt to work outdoors on those tasks that make sense.  
• Where do you focus best?  Everyone has a “formula” that works for them, what’s yours?  Consider if report writing and other focus tasks would benefit from a change of scenery, or if it’s more of a distraction.  Turning off notifications and putting on your “out-of-office” to let others know you are there, but committed to getting something completed for a few hours, will help reduce distractions and manage expectations so you can get stuff done no matter where you are sitting.
• Plan your location.  Not all of the things you do for work will work from a space designed to (literally) put your feet up.  Ergonomically it’s not suited for long-hauls and it’s not as convenient as your desk.  That doesn’t mean you can’t plan oasis time during the work day.  Look at your schedule each morning and see what opportunities there are for you to spend a few hours working from your favourite spot as a way to break up your day or week.
• Slip into glide. Consider working the last few hours of your day from a happy space to gently step into your downtime (particularly if you are going to be working past 5:00…).  Grab an iced coffee or tea to bridge you from work-time to relax-time.
• Consideration is key.  Working full-time from your “happy place” can kill the mood when you are not at work (that’s why you should never put your office in your bedroom).  Having options and choice is wonderful and, when balanced with working in a more dedicated home office space, can be beneficial for both your productivity and your down time.
• Recharge. It can feel impossible to ignore the pings that tell you e-mails are coming in, so use the settings on your smart phone to keep the notifications on during work time, and silence them for the rest.  If your work phone is different than your personal phone, put your work phone away for the night with your laptop, letting both you and your equipment recharge.

 
Of course, the best way to ensure working from home doesn’t become working for your employer for an extra10-40 hours a week …for free… is to set (and keep) regular office hours.  It also helps to have a routine for leaving your work space that includes shutting it all down (or closing the door on it).  Hearing audible notifications going off is the biggest cause of boundary bleed between work time and home time – the very definition of noise pollution!
 
You work hard for many reasons, having a lovely home environment is likely one of them.  But, it’s no good to you if you can’t enjoy it. Working from home without boundaries can contribute to upsetting a space that was designed to give you sanctuary.  Working from home has a lot of benefits, but it means you need to be a good guardian of your time, allowing you to enjoy both.

Need help with 'boundary bleed' while working from home this summer?  I can help!

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