5 tips to separate work and personal life space by working from home

The transition to work models such as remote and hybrid was initially a sudden event, but it has given many employees new freedom and flexibility. On the other hand, some people find it difficult to maintain a sense of balance in doing their job well because of the different work environment from the traditional office. 

Human reactions to change can manifest themselves in unexpected ways, including fatigue, loss of interest in everyday activities, fatigue, stress, and even burnout. What's more, according to data released by Otter.ai, many people routinely experience "out of tune" due to stress. Forty percent of Americans say they have "bad days" at work at least once a week. While the work model is changing, this challenge remains. 

As we try to adapt to old patterns and new rhythms, many may have gone through emotions ranging from excitement and relief to anxiety and fear. Here are a few hints to assist you with working more joyful and better, from getting to significant inward assets to seeing how to utilize outside devices.

1.  Make a plan

A recent study found that 30% of remote workers cited message inbound and flooded inboxes as the number one source of distraction. Whether it's an overflowing inbox or a calendar full of meeting appointments, the feeling that your day's work is busy can lead to anxiety and fear. It's easier to manage if you deal with tasks individually. Also, planning how to tackle the work you have can make a big difference in the flow of the day. Schedule as proactively as possible, such as breaks, food and meal times, meetings and email replies, before you start your week.

2.  Know the external stress factors

Everyone can do things naturally and can be difficult and require extra energy. The latter is, so to speak, an "external stress factor". This is the main cause of tiredness, overwhelming, and burning out. Some people may experience unexpected obstacles and stress due to long-term migration to remote or hybrid work environments. 

To combat stress, it is important to deepen self-awareness. Once you have identified the external stressors, you can allow yourself to move away from the situation, take time to clear your head, and adjust your nervous system. Mindfulness is recommended for identifying stressors. 

A short mindful "workout" helps clarify what's happening to you at this moment. By paying attention to your breathing and listening to your thoughts and feelings, you can feel a deeper connection. 

As you do so, you will find that the thoughts that distract you from your breathing are the ones to watch out for. Maybe it's not what you think it is and you may be surprised. You may find that the most stressful thing is what is happening at home, but that stress is surfaced at work.

3.   Keep away from distracting things

The biggest disadvantage of working from home is that it is easy to get distracted. There may always be people at home other than yourself, such as children, roommates, and partners. Also, even if you have a dedicated work space, you may be distracted many times a day. 

Distracting can have a negative impact on productivity, so you need to find a way to keep it as distracting as possible. There's a lot you can do, but it's a good idea to avoid using too many devices when you work. If possible, avoid bringing your smartphone, smartwatch, or other device into your work room. If you can't get away from your smartphone, try using "sleep mode". If you're an iPhone user, you can turn on the "Focus" feature so you don't have to worry about social media or non-essential messages, but you'll still receive phone calls and other important notifications.

Best of all, turning on "intensive mode" on your iPhone will automatically turn on "intensive mode" on all other Apple devices with the same Apple ID. Also, tell your friends and lovers that you can't talk or help when you're at work, even if you're at home. Of course, this is "easy to say and difficult to do", especially with children. Still, try to minimize distractions until you're done with your work.

4.  Take regular breaks

Once in the zone, you may want to continue working late into the night. That sounds like a good thing, as you can complete a big project, but you still need to take breaks from time to time. When I work from home, I don't talk to my colleagues and I don't move much. 

Therefore, it is recommended that you talk to someone or take a walk during breaks. Doing so will make you more relaxed and active, and will also distract you from your work and talk to your loved ones. If you're prone to workaholics, it's a good idea to use an app that reminds you of your breaks. On Android, you can use apps like Work Break. For iOS, try Stand Up. It is also a good idea to use a timer to manage your break time yourself.

5.  Track your activity

If you're working from home and struggling to distinguish between work and personal life, start by tracking what you do that day. As you become more aware of what you are doing every day, you will understand why you cannot manage your personal life while working remotely. 

When tracking your activity, it's as simple as using a regular notebook. But if you want to use technology, you can also use the app. We recommend using Toggl Track first. This app is very easy to use and will help you track every day-to-day activity.

Learn how to work from home well

Working from home may seem easy, but it's surprisingly difficult. Make good use of technology to separate your personal life space from your work space. Doing so will give you more room and even more productivity. Of course, it's also a good idea to create a mini habit to increase your productivity.