Managing a healthy work

A healthy work-life balance is extremely important when it comes to maintaining happiness and good mental health. We’ve known this for a long time, and it’s one of jobseekers’ top priorities when it comes to securing the perfect role.

However, with so many of us working from home, this line has become increasingly blurred. Here are some tips for both employers and employees to ensure a healthy work-life balance.

For employers

Respect your employees’ needs

Trust and respect should be at the forefront of the employer-employee relationship, particularly where remote working is concerned.

If a member of your team says that they are unable to work before or after a certain time, it’s important to respect this. With people juggling childcare, homeschooling, caring for loved ones who are unwell and simply dealing with the mental strain of a global pandemic, everyone deserves a little slack.

Don’t punish your staff for needing a break, even if it’s during the day. As long as the work is getting done and your employees remain mentally and physically healthy, that’s more than enough.

Don’t call or email out of hours

Your employees may be able to work from home at any hour, but they aren’t obliged to.

Wherever possible, avoid sending emails or making calls outside of regular working hours. Even if you don’t expect to receive a response, don’t cause unnecessary stress or interrupt your employees’ free time.

Most email clients allow you to schedule a time for your message to be sent. This means you can write the email while you’re thinking about it without disrupting your employee’s evening.

For employees

Define your boundaries

As well as informing your line manager when you are and aren’t able to work, make sure that anyone else in your household knows when you’re busy.

Of course, there will be times when you need to deal with something that can’t wait, but try to avoid distractions. This will help you to be more efficient during your working hours, so you can relax and switch off at the end of the day.

If you’re lucky enough to have a separate room that you can work in, keeping the door closed can be a helpful reminder to others not to disturb you.

Give yourself a break

Remember to take regular breaks throughout the day to keep your energy levels up.

Make a hot drink, play with the kids, take the dog for a walk or read a book. However you choose to unwind, don’t feel guilty for stepping away from your desk every now and then. Those who are used to being around lots of colleagues can find working from home very solitary, so going for a walk or chatting with friends is a great way to feel a little more sociable when working from home.

As well as literally giving yourself a break, try not to be too hard on yourself if you’re having a tough day and struggling to focus. We’ve all been thrown into an unexpected and stressful situation, and it’s okay if you’re finding things difficult.

Remote recruiting with Opilio

If you’re looking to hire new team members while working from home, speak to Opilio. Our digital recruitment experts are on hand to support you in your search for great candidates that you can rely on.