※ creating boundaries while working remotely

According to Forbes, work-life balance is the key to a healthy work environment. But during the age of remote work directly from the comfort of your home, how do you possibly separate work from home when you quite literally... work from home? 😣

Before COVID-19, less than 6% of employed Americans worked from home. When stay-at-home orders started to become more and more prevalent, people had to adjust the way that they work. For many, commuting was replaced with plugging into the internet, taking care of children to plug them into the internet, or just surfing the internet. 🏄

According to Pew Research, 58% of Americans say that the internet is an essential part of their lives. In the first quarter of 2021, there are at least 310 million Americans plugged into the internet, and almost 4 billion internet users worldwide (Statista, 2021). With an average use time of almost three hours per day with remote workers and students clocking in even higher rate, it's nearly impossible to NOT be plugged in.

Since the internet is the key to connection within all different realms, crossover between personal and business use is almost inevitable. While it's easy to create a schedule around the best times to work, it's harder to create habits and separation when we're constantly plugged into the web.

With at least 85% of Americans owning a smartphone (Pew, 2020) and 46% of users claiming that they spend anywhere between 5 to 6 hours per day on their phone (Statista, 2021) excluding work time, the chances of someone being away from the internet is slim to none.

Setting boundaries isn't necessarily a bad thing, and if anything, is the hardest but most beneficial thing to do in order to keep your sanity. Here are some reasons as to why you should set boundaries 👇

You're less susceptible to burnout

Burnout is a syndrome that is characterized by feelings of imposter syndrome, energy depletion, and mental exhaustion from one's job. It creeps up without any warning, and typically happens when you're under immense amounts of stress. According to Indeed, 58% of Gen Z feel burnt out in 2021— an 11% increase from the year prior.

If there's any way to separate work from school from entertainment and play, it's by creating a designated space for each activity. Associating a desk for work, the living room couch for relaxation and entertainment— the list goes on.

Want to learn how to avoid burnout? Check out our Instagram post here!

You have the time to do the things you love

When it comes to the world of remote working, there is no such thing as a 9 to 5 work schedule. Life is flexible and unpredictable, and this means the way you work is always changing, too. Knocking out important tasks and keeping a hard stop to work or school hours will allow for more free time to do the things you love doing.

Now that you know a little background about the internet and boundaries, you're finally ready to start integrating remote work into your everyday life! Here are some key tips to help you navigate the world of remote work, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned internet guru. 👇

Create a schedule

It might seem like a no-brainer, but this works. My favorite way to integrate boundaries between work and life is by scheduling blocks of time for working out, journaling, and lunch directly in my Google Calendar. This way, I won't only get blocked with back-to-back meetings, but I'll start to build good habits without even realizing it! 💪

Experiment with your best working hours

Sometimes, the traditional 9 to 5 working schedule doesn't work the way it's perceived to be. My days are split into two: the first half of the day is filled with meetings, and the second half of the day is dedicated to working on my working projects.

Since it takes a bit of time to bring myself into flow state, my best working hours are typically anywhere between 2-6PM. I'm not bothered by anyone, and am completely left alone to get four hours of alone time to finish whatever projects are on my plate while assisting my coworkers for anything that comes up via Slack.

Your schedule may not look like mine; but there will (hopefully) be pockets in your schedule where you'll have time for yourself. 💖

Change up your space

Feeling a bit bland? Sometimes all you need is a change of space. Experiment with working in a different room, outdoors, in a coffee shop, or even a co-working space! I highly recommend WeWork's on-demand spaces since you're able to purchase a day pass directly on your phone ($30 USD). You'll get access to fast wifi and all of WeWork's amenities! 🤸🏻‍♀️

Contra is all about flexible, remote work. We're the new professional community that allows you to work the way you want with zero commission fees, and we give you all the tools needed to create your ideal flexible career. With Contra, it's easier than ever to jumpstart the life you want to live, without the hassle of resumes and commission fees. If you want to learn more about us, check out our how it works page!