By Sophie Cross MembersHow to set boundaries when working from home5 Jul 2021 Bosses and employees have often worried that working from home will lead to a lack of productivity. That there will be too many distractions and work hours will wane. But as most of us have been forced to set up desks on our dining tables and in spare rooms, we’ve realised that the opposite is the problem – it’s hard to stop working.Even for those of us who were used to remote working before the pandemic, work and personal time have become even more blurred as we haven’t been able to do all of the things we would typically do to relax and recharge. How can we set boundaries to regain harmony?Start the day rightA good morning starts the evening before. A decent bedtime routine and sound night’s sleep will set you up right for the next day. When you wake up, make sure you do things for yourself before you’re tempted to check your emails or do anything to do with work. A good morning routine might involve:Some exercise (even if it’s 10-minutes stretching)Getting readyLeaving the house for a walk (get some fresh air and you can even pretend you have a commute to work)Having breakfastTaking control of your routine, however small the things are that you put in place, can feel good when so much seems out of our hands.Have a separate office spaceCreate as much physical division between your work and personal life as you can. If you can use a spare room for an office, then do. Look at coworking options local to you, which could be an alternative to working from home for one or two days a week, if not full-time. Being in a different environment with other people will stimulate ideas, and having a commute is a great way to divide up your day. Your company might even fund or subsidise a cowork space for you.Get your timings rightIf you have flexibility over your working hours, think carefully about what work times suit you. Also, consider when you do different tasks best, like phone calls or work that takes higher levels of concentration and plan your day accordingly. Try to stick to the same hours and be strict with yourself about when you finish work. Parkinson’s Law says that work expands to fill the time you have for it, so if you’re flexible about the time you finish, it will inevitably make you less productive during the day. If you struggle to be firm with your finish time, arrange to meet a friend, have a phone call or book a class to force you to end your working day.Calendar blockDon’t just put in meetings and video calls but block time for everything – breaks, lunchtime, a walk or exercise, and anything important to you to do each day. Review how it’s worked at the end of the day and make changes for the next.Have an end of day routineJust like your morning routine, have an end of day routine too. Check your calendar and write your to-do list for the next day and then pack your things away.Out of sight, out of mindIf you work from your living space (like your dining table), then make sure you pack everything away at the end of the day so you can properly switch off without your laptop or paperwork staring at you from the corner. Consider deleting the email app and things like LinkedIn from your phone, so you’re not tempted to look at them during your downtime.Fill your cupIt’s impossible to give your full attention to your work if you’re not doing things that fulfil you mentally and emotionally. Think carefully about what these look like for you and how you can make sure you’re doing a little bit of them every day. Start small and adapt them for the times we’re living in if you need to. For example, if travel and exploration are important to you then walk around a different part of your home town or go to the seaside at the weekend. If seeing family is important to you and you can’t visit as often right now then get a regular phone or video call scheduled with them.If at first, you don’t succeedHabits take time to form, so don’t be disheartened if you can’t get a new routine in place immediately. Keep trying and keep tweaking it until you have something that works for you. Don’t give up until you do.Further readingAre accountancy employers ready for hybrid working?How much holiday should I be taking a year?Why a 4 day work week can boost productivity Sophie Cross is the Editor of Freelancer Magazine and a freelance writer and marketer at Thoughtfully.