Striking the Right Balance: Navigating Work and Home Life

Covid has reshaped the landscape of work, propelling many companies into the realm of flexible work arrangements like never before. Even the staunchest skeptics of remote work pre 2019 had to adapt quickly during lockdowns to ensure business continuity.

For families like mine, this shift has been a welcome change. I used to spend four days a week in London, enduring a lengthy commute that cut into precious time with my children. If I missed my train or my train was delayed this ate into precious time with the children, and often the opportunity to say goodnight.

Now, most days, I walk from the bottom of my garden back into my house, allowing me to be present for my kids morning and evening while still working a fulfilling and full day. Right now both areas of my life getting the most out of me.

I think about a day a few weeks ago and I am so grateful; I said goodbye to my kids, had a morning dog walk, got the morning coffee and stuck into work, had a lunch time run with my husband and in the afternoon a work offsite connecting with our leadership team in New York, whilst still being home for my kids in the evening. I couldn't have imagined or even dreamed this existence 10 years ago.

I aim to go into London at least one day a week to see my team and colleagues and

it seems to follow the UK trend;

• In 2019 around 1 in 10 of the UK workforce worked from home 1 day a week and around 1 in 20 reported mainly working from home.

• In September 2022 around 1 in 5 worked at least 1 day from home (this has doubled!) and 1 in 8 worked from home exclusively (more than doubled!).

Source; POSTbrief, The impact of remote and hyrbid working on workers and organisations, October 2022

We are already starting to see companies implement mandatory days in work, as we start to understand the missed chance conversations, collaborative work and the water cooler moments. I believe that we will see these stats uptick over time but that is a topic for a whole other post! Certainly here at Pinterest, there is no intention to mandate days at present and the findings show continued great collaboration between teams.

While the advantages of remote work are evident, it's crucial to acknowledge the challenges that have arisen, including the blurring of lines between work and family/personal spaces.

Data suggests that there has been an increase in working hours, we're working longer hours than ever before, largely because we can - work is now only just a few steps away. This "always on" culture can compromise the flexibility we've gained.

Such challenges have been cited as reduced mental well being of staff as the use of technology both in and outside of work makes it difficult to "switch off", we are constantly on screens! Furthermore reduced human contact and interaction that is so crucial to long term relationship building.

If morale is down then in the long term so too is productivity.

Here are some strategies that as employees we can use to maintain a healthy work-life balance in this evolving landscape:

1. Create Physical Separation: Initially, many of us were confined to makeshift home offices in cramped spaces. I recall my first set up was a small standing desk and stool crammed into the corner of my bedroom. If you are still doing that, that needs addressing! A day or two working at home I feel are firmly here to stay, you need a dedicated workspace at home and it's essential to establish a clear physical boundary between work and personal life. We cannot continue to float from living room, dining space to bedroom. If you lack a dedicated room, consider inventive solutions like transforming a wardrobe or an under-stairs cupboard. Personally, I invested in a "shoffice," which is part shed, part garden room, providing a distinct workspace that I can leave behind at the end of the day. Pinterest has some amazing ideas on creating personal work spaces at home. I've got a board dedicated to "Shoffice" and creating offices in small spaces, feel free to look at my Working From Home (WFH) board here. Follow me on Pinterest! Find me here.

2. Ensure you have the right equipment; In addition to having the right space, it's crucial to have the right tools. Most probably you have a desk, whether sit-to-stand or static, but now is time to review as we settle into this long-term work environment. Ask yourself "Do I have the right equipment?". Maybe you need more mobility during the day and need to update to sit to stand desk. Perhaps you need a more ergonomic chair. Is your screen at the correct height? Is it the right size? Would a second screen be beneficial? If you have a laptop keyboards are typically smaller, try to invest in a peripheral keyboard and mouse. Working incorrectly will cause all manner of aches and strains in the long term that only your physio and optician will appreciate!

3. Respect Meal Times: Resist the urge to keep your laptop open during lunch or dinner. Lunch needs to be a time to truly switch off and in the evening allow time for socialising with your partner and family. It not only aids digestion but also fosters stronger connections.

4. Stay Active and Set Screen Breaks : In the absence of a daily commute or office environment, it's easy to become sedentary and sit at the screen all day. Make an effort to stand up regularly, at least every hour, and also remember to take a break from the screen. If possible, invest in a sit-to-stand desk to facilitate movement. In office culture before, we'd often go to the gym at lunch, so why not continue with that? Find your local gym or just get out for a walk or run. If you are looking for inventive ways to stay fit as a family, enjoy my other post on how to find active time in family life.

5. Optimise Administrative Tasks: With the reduction in commuting time, administrative tasks often get squeezed into personal time adding huge pressure to time that is already limited. Consider creating a daily to-do list that includes three personal tasks alongside work-related items. This ensures that essential personal matters don't fall by the wayside and that you make time for them. Can you get to your desk 15 minutes earlier to allow for some of your own time before you get stuck into the working day? I've started the 3 personal tasks a day and really noticed a difference, I pick them off throughout the day and find that I also focus more as I work my way through them in between work tasks and meetings.

6. Dress the Part: Dressing professionally, even when working from home, can help you mentally transition into work mode. Match your attire to the level of focus and productivity you need for the day; it can make a significant difference in your mindset. If you slouch around in joggers all day you're going feel like lounging!

In this evolving era of work, the key is to strike a balance between flexibility and maintaining the boundaries that keep work and home life separate. By implementing these strategies, you can harness the benefits of remote work while ensuring that your personal life and well-being remains a priority.

#balance #workingmums #worklifebalance #workingfromhome #homeoffice