There has always been debate about work-life balance. It is always very tricky to balance a professional and personal life. This usually occurs when the office is just a few steps away on your couch or home workspace. But with all due consideration, here is a guide with easy-to-use tips and tricks to help you acquire an adequate timeline between workday and personal time. Let your productivity at work not be hampered.

Creating a Dedicated Work Environment

Consider your workspace at home. Your small office space will give you the same feeling as working from the office. This doesn’t even need to be a luxurious spare room. A simple and small corner of your living room or bedroom will do its work completely! Having a dedicated space free of distractions and clutter is essential to having a proper focus on the work that you do. This will assist you in switching to work mode when you sit down and unwind in leisure activities after work.

Follow A Routine Every Single Day

Having a regular schedule is a must. This will eventually help you focus when you are working from home. Just like in an office, try to create an environment that will help boost productivity. Here are a few quick tips to maintain a daily routine schedule

• Establish specific work hours
• Set a regular wake-up time
• Get dressed in your office clothes and not sweatpants and regular T-shirts. Though the sweatpants are comfortable,. The whole point is to get out of the homely comfort zone and focus on work.
• Maintaining a timetable will assist you in being focused and preventing the feeling of laziness and distracting yourself with random thoughts and social media influences.

Silencing the Array of Distraction

Our homes and various phone applications are full of tempting distractions. That pile of laundry begging to be folded and the endless notifications on your phone can all derail your focus. Here’s where you should focus on things that will help you get your focus back on track.

• Silence Your Phone: Put your phone on silent or turn on “Do Not Disturb” mode during work hours.
• Utilize Software: Feeling lost in internet wormholes? Stay focused with website blocking software! These tools block distracting sites and even adult content with a porn blocker app. Imagine browsing freely without getting sucked into time-wasting content.  This keeps you on track and minimizes temptations, letting you conquer your to-do list
• Communicate with Housemates: If you live with others, let them know your work hours and politely ask them to minimize disturbances during that time.

Always Plan your Day, Week and To-do-list
Make it a point that you prioritize all your daily critical tasks on your to-do list as you begin your day. To help you stay focused, set aside particular times of the day for each task. This keeps you from being overburdened and guarantees you’re doing your task steadily.

Take Adequate Number and Duration of Breaks in Between
Taking pauses during the day while working from home is crucial, just as in a regular office. Get up and take a few steps to stretch your legs and body. Always grab nutritious food instead of junk food, or even go outdoors for fresh air. A brief break might help you focus better and return to your task with renewed energy. Never fail to listen to your body.

Keep in mind that working from home takes diligence, due practice and a bit of trial and error to find a schedule that suits you. However, you should never give up hope and avoid the random distractions to go at it without diverting your mind. Create a balance between focus and relaxation, and things will fall into place for you!