I am constantly struggling with this and it is truly becoming more and more of a challenge as things get busy.
The great thing about going into the office is having that forced break in the form of a commute to and from the office. That time is meant for travel and you can spend it as you wish (listen to music, listen to a podcast, etc.). When you are at home there is less of an incentive to take a break and sometimes less of a need to.
When I have a busy day I always think “well at least I didn’t have to spend an hour commuting downtown and back so I will just put in an additional two hours today”. This habit becomes problematic as your list of things to do get longer with no corresponding decrease in your work hours.
What’s interesting is that a lot of us (myself included) are working increased hours at this time despite being afforded the ability to dispense with the lengthy travel time into the city.
As a litigation lawyer my job is adversarial and I often find myself in contentious battles. Lately since it has been so busy, I find that the increase in combative encounters have taken a toll on my sleep and has begun to seep into my personal life in ways that are becoming more and more problematic. It is not healthy to allow this negative energy to make its way into your personal life.
Here are some things that I am doing to do to separate work from my personal life on a day to day.
1. Blogging
Since I’ve started my blog it has really been a great way for me to connect with other ladies on instagram who lead a similar life to me – some are students others are new graduates or new lawyers. Some are training to be a lawyer and others have left the practice of law to pursue other passions. My blog is something I truly enjoy and provides me with a creative outlet that I cannot always find in my day job.
I think it’s so important to find something to do that you enjoy that is separate from work and set aside time each day to work on that. I love saying this, but….WE ARE MULTIFACETED there is no one that does one thing and nothing else – it is unnatural. Sometimes you will love work and other times you will have stressful days and the best way to address those stressful days is having a passion that you are able to devote your time and effort into.
2. Connecting with friends
It is so important to be able to connect with your friends outside of work and just chat about anything non work-related. Of course venting is beneficial and sometimes needed but try and find connections with others on a personal level that isn’t solely based on work as that can get tired really quickly. Whether this is a zoom call or a meet up, a phone call or just a group text I would try to keep in the habit of getting together with your friends. It is truly helpful to keep those human connections throughout the day that is separate from work and non work related.
3. Try not to take things personally
I really struggle with this. It is very easy to carry the stress of a file into your personal life. At the end of the day, as a lawyer this is your job and you have a professional duty to your client. This is not personal nor is it a reflection of your ability, it is a JOB and that is sometimes difficult to separate. Litigation lawyers are often a shield for their client taking hits left and right. It is important to always remember this is the nature of the job and any perceived “attacks” are usually just another lawyer doing what they have been hired to do for their client similar to what you would do for your own client.
4. Enforce blackout time blocks
It is so important to step away and TURN OFF your work notifications even when you are not working. When you are off the clock, turn your work email notifications off and don’t get into the habit of checking them prior to bed or when you wake up in the morning. This can easily blur the lines between work and your personal life.
If you are on lunch I encourage putting your phone on airplane mode so as to not answer work phone calls or emails unless its an emergency. Enjoy your breaks and take advantage of the time for a brain detox. It is usually much needed during a stressful or busy day and can often jump start productivity for the afternoon just when you begin to feel yourself dosing off.
5. Lastly, know when to stop
Know when to turn your computer off for the day. It is not helpful or beneficial to be working crazy long hours. When you have been working long days, the quality of your work suffers from fatigue. This is why I am a big proponent of breaking up your days into manageable chunks with breaks in between to keep you focussed and provide you with something to work towards.
I hope these few things were helpful for you in your search of finding a work-life balance while working from home. I understand that it can certainly be challenging working from home but employing some of these tactics is a step in the right direction. We are all human and often need reminders that work is not your life and that balance is so important.
