Boundaries when Working from Home
Boundaries are a super popular topic at Sunrise Nutrition, especially in the context of eating disorders, intuitive eating and body image. We often talk about boundaries with others, ourselves, our relationship with food, movement and our bodies. However, we don’t come across the topic of working from home and boundaries. With some of us working remotely now with recent COVID-19 events, I thought it’d be a nice blog topic to talk about!
While working from home can be equal parts exciting and relieving, it can also be really annoying. Suddenly you feel like you’re working ALL THE TIME; you’re checking email at 6am and attending “emergency meetings” at 10pm and you can’t seem to step away from your devices. As you find yourself trying to find a new normal, here are some tips to help you achieve some work-life balance in this time of chaos and uncertainty:
Create a “home office” space. This space is where your work lives. Get creative; if you don’t have a dedicated home office, you can section off a part of your bedroom, living room or dining room. Set it up so it’s conducive to work. When you are in this space, you work. When you are outside of this space, you don’t work. Yay for boundaries!
Set a schedule. Figure out when you’re going to start and end work, then schedule in breaks for rest and meals. Even though you’re home, you need to know when to work and when not to, as well as designated times for rest and opportunities for nourishment (self care!) Use the alarm on your phone to schedule breaks for food, a walk or even connecting with friend.
Set team boundaries. If you’re working on a team, make sure everyone knows what to expect from one another. This may be something the team manager, supervisor or leader spearheads. So often, misplaced expectations cause anxiety and miscommunication. Knowing what others can provide for you and what you can provide for others can contribute to a more peaceful work-from-home situation.
Establish a “sign-off” ritual. Everyone has a ritual of some sort when they leave work. I pack up my stuff, turn off my lights and listen to a podcast on my way home. It helps my brain (and body) move from “work mode” to “home mode.” For yourself, find a ritual that will help you transition from work to home life. This might be turning off your phone for 30 minutes and going for a walk or watching your favorite show. It might even mean connecting with a friend over FaceTime. Establish a transition activity that will signify when your day ends (so it actually can!)
Hope you find these tips helpful and feel free to drop your own in the comments!
Mindy is a Nutritionist and Therapist based out of Seattle, where she offers nutrition counseling and mental health therapy for eating disorders, intuitive eating and body image concerns. She lives in Seattle, WA and watches lots of television.
(Also, she has no idea how to make this picture smaller so if anyone knows....)