How Return to Work Can Improve Your Work/Life Balance

The words “return to work” can be tough to hear, especially when you’ve become so used to working remotely for the past two years. It means getting out of your routine and potentially losing some flexibility in your schedule. But, the truth is that return to work can be a great initiative, especially when it comes to balancing your worklife and your personal life.

The biggest issue many professionals struggle with when working remotely is that it is hard to find a healthy balance. It is so easy to get distracted by your home to-do list or by family members who are sharing your space. It can be equally as hard to close your computer at the end of the day and keep it closed. It’s right there, so why not spend a few more minutes/hours in the evening working?

While we know it’s important to prioritize work and it’s important to prioritize family, it’s also important to prioritize finding a balance between the two. This is a huge reason why return to work doesn’t have to have negative connotations – it’s a great way to keep work at work and home at home.

Return to work literally puts up physical boundaries for you and it keeps you accountable. We tend to get burnt out at work when it’s constantly on our minds and we feel like all of our free time needs to be spent working. It is crucial to take breaks and give yourself some space at the end of a work day. As tempting as it can be to try and accomplish your entire to-do list in one day, it might not be the healthiest option for you. It’s better to accomplish as much as you can and make the decision at the end of the day to give it your all when business hours commence tomorrow.

Another positive return to work will have on your work/life balance is helping you establish a schedule. You can still have flexible hours, while still having a routine. Work from home tends to blur those lines because your workspace and your home are all in one. It is so easy to get into an unproductive routine – start your day, make breakfast, work on a project, throw in some laundry, take a virtual meeting, grab a quick nap etc. Before you know it, it’s 5:00pm and you feel like there is still so much more work you need to accomplish because you’ve been distracted all day.

While the flexibility of working from home is certainly nice, it doesn’t always keep you in a solid routine. We can suggest a great solution for a happy medium – an office or workspace in a coworking space like CommonGrounds Workplace. Coworking spaces are great for so many reasons including the flexibility they allow your schedule and the amenities that make the space still feel like home. You can set your own hours, have 24/7 building access*, still enjoy coffee breaks and lounge breaks, and even wear the attire you prefer to work in.

Coworking spaces create a safe, comfortable environment for you so you don’t have to feel stressed about going back to the office. They offer all the luxuries and comforts of home, while still creating a physical boundary to maintain a healthy work/life balance.

All that to say, when you hear the words “return to work” you don’t have to feel stressed out or anxious about losing all the perks of working from home. Instead, see the bright side. See the ability to separate work life and home life; see that the flexibility in your routine is still present; see the pressure lifted from your mental and physical health by leaving work at work and home at home; see all the improvements return to work can bring your life.

*24/7 building access is available with select membership. Please see your workplace team for details.