3 Easy Ways To Re-Align Your Work/Life Balance

After months of working from home, the walls between our work world and our home universe have been crumbling down. But not having a balanced work vs. life relationship can be draining on our mental health. As we transition back to office life, here are some easy methods to reclaim your boundaries.

1) Find a signature scent

With working from home, and often our bed and living rooms, becoming the norm lately, it’s easy to think of our personal spaces as work spaces. As we make our way back into working in offices, set boundaries on how much work you can do once you’re home. An email or two is fine, but no major projects! An easy way to train yourself to do that is find a scent you love, whether it be with a scented candle or an essential oil diffuser, and put that on once you get home. Eventually your body will associate the smell with personal time, and the moment you get home and smell that, you’ll know it’s time to relax.

 2) Schedule out a lunch break

When your kitchen was a foot from your desk, it was easy to make food and eat while staring at your monitor. But you need that midday break to rebalance and make sure that you’re on top of your game for the rest of the day! Get in the habit of scheduling out at least 30 minutes in the middle of the day where you have to step away from your desk. You can use the time to pick up takeout from your old favorite spot, or eat your packed lunch in the park enjoying the crisp fall weather, as long as you use the time to de-stress!

 3) Reclaim your commute

Getting to the office is no longer as easy as getting out of bed and walking to grab your laptop, but that should be a positive thing! Make the most out of your time commuting! If you use public transportation, use the time to read that book you’ve meaning to get to, or take up a new hobby! Cross stitch and knitting are great public transportation activities! If you drive yourself, a new audiobook or a podcast is on the books for you! Whatever you do, fill that time with things that enrich your life and help you re-center.

Whatever you may find centers you, apply it to your routine consistently. Consistency is the key to finding balance in your life. Try these methods out and see if there if any of them work for you!