Even as Malaysia enters the endemic stage and people have returned to the workplace, many women might be considering working from home full-time. While it might be a logical choice, this decision comes with its share of challenges – most significant being that of work-life balance.
Truly, it is difficult for women to strike a balance between their professional and personal lives since they are expected to take on many home duties. According to a survey, women spend an average of four hours and 25 minutes a day on domestic and care labour.
Men, on the other hand, spend less than two hours.
If you are among those who still intend to work but are not planning on returning to the office, here are some tips that could help you to better manage your WFH experience.
1. Create a work schedule
A 2019 study showed that up to 30% of work is done outside of regular working hours. This isn’t a surprise, but overworking yourself could lead to exhaustion, lack of time with family and friends, and poor health.
An excellent first step in maintaining a healthy work-life balance is to set a clear work schedule, communicate that schedule to your colleagues and family members, and avoid working later than you typically would.
2. Exercise in a new way
You can still go for a jog or bike ride, but you might want to consider activities that allow you to take advantage of your time spent indoors, especially if you’re meant to be working but would like to take a short break.
Simple stretches, yoga, or cardio-focused exercises can easily be done at home to boost your mental and physical wellbeing – simply look for instructional videos by qualified trainers.
3. Take time off for yourself
Working from home makes it easy to lose track of time and forget to take regular breaks as you would at the office. It’s essential to allow yourself some breathing space to keep well.
So, apart from the abovementioned simple workouts at home, do go for a short walk around the block, take your pet for a stroll, or meet up with a friend or family member for coffee to help you recharge.
Do not check your work email or phone for messages during this period.
4. Get along with family
While you’re working from home, you might have to share your space with family members. Discuss with your partner on tasks they could fulfill, such as making meals or sending the children to school, that do not eat into your work time.
Plan must-dos, such as looking over your children’s homework, after work hours.
If your children are at home on a workday, perhaps provide them with activities in a separate room so you are still free to focus on work and attend remote meetings.
5. Define your working space
Even if you’re not sitting in front of a computer all the time, having a designated work area could help you stay focused while working remotely. Assigning different locations for work and pleasure helps you mentally transition from the workplace to your personal space more efficiently.
You may designate separate areas for various activities within just one room. What matters more than the physical presence of walls is the purpose you give to those walls in your mind.
This article first appeared in The New Savvy, Asia’s leading financial, investments and career platform for women. Its vision is to empower 100 million women to achieve financial happiness by delivering high-quality content through conferences, e-learning platforms, personal finance apps and e-commerce stores.