Working From Home Doesn’t Mean I’m Available 24/7!

Time has passed swiftly as the wind on a stormy day. I used to count days, each day passing by meant one less day till all of this is all over. But 21 days passed, 14 more days were added and I slowly lost interest in the days left and transferred that energy into adapting to the new normal. I don’t remember the date nor the time but a friend's words changed my perspective “The days more or less, reality will remain the virus is here and life has to go on.” My reality is I’m working from home, I do a silent prayer every day of gratitude that I still have a job. I have to explicitly say this because today’s topic is tricky and my views might be easily misjudged.

Working from home for many is the new normal. It has relished freedom and flexibility, a good improvised way to keep the ball rolling during this unprecedented quarantine. Like any other things like staying indoors and restricted movements, it takes time to get used to it. Having all aspects of life in one place, how on earth are we going to maintain family time or even come up with a healthy work-life balance? When do we mute work emails? And when do we take time for self-care? It has its perks but unfortunately struggles as well. Boundaries are crossed and lines between normal working hours and family times are blurred. All this needs one to have a set of guidelines otherwise work melts it down and it becomes a threat to your personal time. Or your health. Or sanity.

Yes, it’s hard times. But what good does a burnt out / disgruntled person do your business? Let’s face it, there’s 24 hours in a day and we spend 60 % of our time at work. Whether I love my job or what, the little time I get after working hours I want to sink into my couch on some good glass of wine and indulge some nice music in the name of keeping my sanity. With the crazy that life throws at us and the onset of COVID-19, it’s well-deserved right. There’s so much to life; family, personal hobbies, a new course to pursue, long chat with your lover or catch up time with your kids.

It’s very important to make sure you take care of your body, mind, and soul every day. Reduce unnecessary stress and set boundaries when working from home. Here how to:

Say No More Often: Yes, No it’s a complete answer and it’s okay to use it more often. You don’t have to constantly explain yourself. Just because you are working from home doesn’t mean you are always on call for duty. After all, people have families and many people are fighting other battles in silence. Peace of mind is very important during these tough times.

Manage Expectations: Don’t leave at No, tell them when you get the work done, that is, during normal working hours. This lets them know you’re not ignoring your responsibilities whilst maintaining boundaries so you enjoy your family time / that long-awaited hot bath unbothered.

Schedule your self-care time and guard that time: Easy self-care tips

• Social media detox: If you have to switch off your phone or put it on flight mode, do so and enjoy your family / personal time.

• Read that novel that you’ve been tossing aside for the longest time or enrol in that online class you didn’t have time for. You would be amazed at the difference it can make when you slow down.

• Take walks and meditate it clears your mind and keeps you emotionally calm in a stable state. You learn to observe your thoughts without judgment and start to understand them as well.

• Have a mini dance party: We have busy days and lives, it’s important to remember to have some fun and connect with loved ones. One or two Tiktok dance routines wouldn’t hurt.

• Have a family dinner/breakfast: No phones on the table, just having a nice meal and connecting with loved ones or yourself.

You can add what works for you! The idea is to take uninterrupted time for yourself and take care of yourself. It’s important to take time to breathe, it can be very grounding to have enjoyable rituals built into your day.