No matter how good you are at separating your home and work life, from time to time, all of us can struggle with switching off from work. This is especially difficult if you work from home, where the line between work and home life is often blurred. To help, we have prepared a handy list of practices that could help you to fully switch off from work and ready to relax.
6 tips on how to switch off from work when working from home
1. Separate your virtual workspace
When using the same device for work and personal use, it is easy to struggle with finding a balance between work and personal life. Our first tip is to use separate accounts for work and personal on your browser or your device. This will allow you to create a clear line between your professional and personal life, even on the same device.
For example, you can create separate accounts on your laptop, choosing the appropriate profile when you turn on your device. Alternatively, create distinct profiles on your browser of choice.
2. Turn off your notifications
If you use the same phone for personal and business purposes, to help you switch off from work, disable your notifications. If you still want to receive notifications for certain apps, you can switch on notifications for specific apps in your phone’s settings. This practice will help you not go down the rabbit hole of seeing emails come in after you have finished working and starting to answer them.
If you want to break the habit of checking your notifications or emails and replying to them, try apps such as Forest. Apps like this help you to stay focused and be present in the moment.
3. Transition activity
When working from home, we have the luxury of skipping the often lengthy commute. However, commuting home often signals to our mind that it is the end of the working day and time to relax.
To create separation from work and relaxing modes, try implementing a transitioning activity. For example, after work, try tidying your workspace. It is especially important for those of us who work within their living space, and don’t have a home office they can close the door to. Tidying up your working area will not only help your mind and body establish that it is the end of the day but also set you up for a great start to the next working day. Alternatively, try going for a walk, deep breathing work or guided meditation – whatever works for you and gets you into a relaxing headspace. Trial and error!
4. Truly immerse yourself in an activity or a project
Cooking, a hobby, or a workout – whatever you get up to after work, try fully dedicating this time to focus on the activity. Let your mind switch off from work hustle and troubles by immersing yourself fully into the activity.
5. Move your body
According to the NHS, physical activity is proven to reduce the risk of major illnesses as well as boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality, and energy. We are all aware of the benefits of exercising; however, after an 8,10 or even 12-hour workday, going to the gym, for a run or a hike is often the last thing you want to do.
Try finding a workout that doesn’t seem like a chore; some of our top picks include 10-minute workouts from NHS, dance workouts on YouTube and deep stretching/yoga. Again, use the trial and error method to find a physical activity that suits you, helps to switch off from work, and brings you a boost of endorphins.
6. Create an ambient atmosphere and let your body truly relax
Another way to help you to switch off from work is to create a relaxing atmosphere. For example, essential oils such as lavender, chamomile and rose can help you to feel more relaxed as the scent has been shown to reduce stress levels and anxiety. Try adding drops of essential oils to your bath, purchase a roll-on oil bottle or invest in a diffuser.
We hope that these tips on switching off after work will help you switch off after work and, therefore, improve your work-life balance. For more information, please read our blog on how to boost your work-life balance with 10 actionable tips.
