Balancing your personal life and career goals can be a challenge for anyone, but it’s especially tough when you live and work in the same space.
As a blogger, how do you allocate your time between personal and professional responsibilities? How can you focus on creating amazing content when you’re surrounded by dirty laundry?
The key is to learn how to set priorities and reduce distractions whether you’re new to working from home or you moved out of your cubicle years ago. Use these tips for staying peaceful and productive when you work from home.
Blogger’s Guide to Work-Life Balance
What You Must Do
1. Follow a schedule.
Set a specific start and end time for your day. Tackle your most challenging tasks during the hours when you’re at your peak. When it’s time to quit for the day, leave your job behind.
2. Design an office space.
Designate a specific space for your business. This can be an entire room or just a corner in your dining room. Decorate your space with pictures, art, and objects that you find inspirational and motivating.
3. Change clothes.
Get up each morning and dress for your day. You’ll be more productive if you’ve taken time to put yourself together, instead of working all day in your pajamas.
Likewise, at the end of the day when you’ve finished work, consider getting into comfy clothes for your evening.
4. Limit distractions.
Do you waste time watching TV or checking personal social media during your work day? Ban leisure activities during business hours except during break times.
5. Take breaks.
Speaking of breaks, take them. You’ll be more productive if you refresh your mind and body periodically.
Mid-day breaks are a great time to run a quick errand, walk your dog, or do a home-related chore. Just make sure not to get caught up in your break for too long.
6. Wind down.
Do something at the end of each day to help you transition into an off-duty mindset. You might listen to classical music or take a walk in the park. This activity will confirm to your brain that the work day is over and it’s time to relax.
7. Get organized.
Create routines and systems that encourage efficiency in your business. Buy a cabinet for your office supplies. Use an online calendar to block out your time. Whatever helps you organize your time is a win.
8. Continue learning.
Career development matters whether you work at your dining room table or in a corner office. Take an online course or have a look at the course catalog for the adult education program at a local university.
Stay connected to your niche by reading other blogs, industry publications, and general business news.
9. Evaluate your performance.
Conduct your own job evaluations. Look for ways to increase quality, save time, and manage stress. Update your strategy as your goals evolve.
What Others Can Help You Do
1. Post your work hours.
Make your family, friends, and colleagues aware of the hours when you’re working. Teach family members to respect your work time, and let everyone know that when the work day is done, you are unavailable until the next word day.
3. Go out for lunch.
Your midday meal is a daily opportunity to stay connected while you work at home. Plan a weekly lunch date to catch up with a friend.
It’s not even necessary to go to a restaurant for lunch. Consider packing a lunch and taking it to the park for a few minutes of sunshine and fresh air.
4. Remain visible.
Make business lunches and other events part of your strategy for cultivating your network.
Stay connected with other bloggers by joining an online mastermind group or a local bloggers group.
5. Pull together.
A strong support network helps you to build your confidence and accomplish more. Ask your family and friends for the emotional and practical assistance you need. Let them know how much you appreciate them and pitch in when they need a hand too.
You don’t have to give up work-life balance when you work in the same place where you live the rest of your life. Enjoy more health and happiness by drawing sensible boundaries between your personal and professional activities as you pursue all your dreams.
Do You Have Any Tips?
How do you achieve work-life balance as a blogger? Leave a comment below to share your experience!
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