Find your balance
Getting the work/life balance right isn’t easy at the best of times. Getting it right when one is suddenly (and unexpectedly) working from home and doing lots of other things at home can be especially tricky. I started working from home in 1995 . . . before there was much working at home. Back in the day I had all the gear – fax machine, printer, copier, huge computer, filing cabinets and all the accompanying supplies . . . I had to have a whole room set aside for an office. Today many jobs are completely paperless and your work supplies may consist of a laptop and a phone. Or your work setup may be somewhere in between. Regardless of the equipment your working from home entails, the guidelines are the same for achieving balance in your new bubble.
Find a new version of your old routine
We are creatures of habit and when our routines are suddenly disturbed (or perhaps blown up is a better term) it can make everything seem out of control, make us feel anxious and stressed. Try to find a new version of your old routine. Continue to incorporate those things that are important to you. Did you listen to a podcast on the drive to work? Use that same time to listen to your podcast as you walk around the neighborhood (that’s your new “drive to work”). Did you go to the gym at lunchtime? Grab a YouTube video and use that same time to work out. Was evening yoga class your thing? Set the time aside that you would normally go to class and schedule a zoom class instead.
Find your new office
Already have a space for your home office – great! Never worked from home before – get creative. Your home is yours – use your space in a way that works best for you and your housemates. Don’t feel confined by the definitions of living room, dining room, etc. Maybe re-arrange the furniture to meet your new needs and repurpose items to create some separation. Look at household items that can be used differently – a tall bookcase can become a wall, a bedside table can become a desk, hang a sheet in an open archway to create a door. Perhaps clean out a closet and make it your new office. Move lamps around to create the lighting you need. Make your space work for your life!
Take breaks
In an office you probably take a break to grab a cup of coffee, talk to a colleague down the hall, chat at the water cooler about last night’s “must see TV” (ok, I’m dating myself, I haven’t worked in an office since that was a thing!!). But you get my point, make sure to take time out for breaks during the day just like you would if you were at the office. Without the distractions of the office it’s easy to forget sometimes . . . set the alarm on your phone, walk away from the computer at least once an hour, get some water, look out the window, walk around the house, walk around the block, do your favorite yoga posture.
Put the laptop away
When it’s time for lunch or your workout or the end of the day make the office “go away.” Close the door if your office is in a separate room, close the laptop and actually put it somewhere you can’t see it if the dining room table is your office. Out of sight, out of mind really can be very helpful when separating work from personal time. If the computer is still right there it’s really easy for work to take over more than its fair share of space in your mind.
Get creative, think about what you need, what you want, find your balance.
Jen took her first yoga class at a London YMCA in 1984 – and loved it. That was over 30 years ago and she’s been practicing ever since. A long distance runner and triathlete, Jen credits yoga with keeping her body healthy and injury free. Yoga was the calming influence in her life when running her own business and raising 3 children.
Jen has her 200 hour teaching certification and enjoys sharing her love of hot yoga with her students. She believes incorporating yoga into every day is key – postures, breathing or meditation – just take a little time for yoga every day to reap timeless rewards. Jen loves the outdoors - hiking, biking, camping, traveling – always taking her yoga with her.