Remote Work & Work–Life Balance: Our Top 5 Tips And Tools

In the age of remote work, many of us have found ourselves spending more time in front of the computer than ever before. Working remotely can be liberating, and can be a great way to develop your career, but it can also be taxing. It’s easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of digital life and forget about the importance of having down time. After all, we don't want to become one of those people who are always "on" and never able to fully relax or disconnect.

Despite that, remote work still tips the scales on work life balance. With perks that would be unheard of in an office environment, remote work can be your key to the freedom you’ve always wanted, without sacrificing growth in your career.

But – it requires active effort.

Remote work gives you an environment that encourages balance, but you’ll need to put in the effort to keep your work, and your life, separate.

Hear us out, it’s not as ominous as it sounds.

With thousands of apps, strategies, and tools, you can take advantage of remote work to keep your life balanced.

Here are our top five tips and tools for keeping everything in balance so you can be successful without sacrificing your sanity:

Toggl

Toggl is a time tracking app that helps you maintain work-life balance by giving you a clear picture of how you're spending your time. With Toggl, you can easily track your work hours, breaks, and even those times when you get distracted by the latest TikTok trend. It's like a personal assistant for your time, helping you stay focused and avoid burnout. It’s ease of use and friendly interface makes it a must have resource in any remote workers tool belt.

RescueTime

RescueTime is the superhero of time management tools, here to save you from the clutches of distractions and poor productivity. It's a time tracking tool that helps you maintain work-life balance by giving you a detailed report on your digital habits. With RescueTime, you'll finally have an answer to that age-old question: why is it so hard to focus on work when you're at home? (Spoiler: it’s the easy access to Netflix). Your key to avoiding burnout by showing you how you're spending your time online and suggesting ways you can improve your productivity.

Headspace

Tired of feeling like you’re constantly plugged into the matric, even when you’re off work? It can be tough to find the time and space to care for yourself. Headspace helps you practice self-care with meditation. Whether its meditation before work to start your day off right and get in the zone, or after work to de-stress, unwind, and fully “Log-off” for the night – Headspace helps keep you grounded.

The Pomodoro Method

A simple method that can help you take control of your time, the Pomodoro Method, it might sound like a pasta recipe, but it’s actually a highly-effective productivity strategy that can help keep you focused so that your time away from work, is actually time away from work. Consider it a template for your day that keeps you focused and takes the guessing game out of when to take breaks so you can recharge your work-battery before you fully drain. By breaking your day into blocks of work-time, and break time, it’s like a game of work/life Arcade Pong except unlike Pong, you’ll always win. One of our favourite methods, keep an eye on our blogs for a more detailed framework of how to implement the Pomodoro method in your work routine.

The Getting Things Done Method (GTD)

Getting Things Done (GTD) is a method that organizes all of your tasks and commitments into a clear, actionable plan. Keeping on the theme of games that were popular in the 80’s, It's like a game of Tetris for your to-do list, with everything fitting perfectly into place. GTD helps you stay focused by allowing you to prioritize your tasks and take action on them in an organized and systematic way. Plus, it's super easy to use and has a friendly interface (unlike those forms you get from HR). By using GTD, you can work efficiently adn effectively, leaving more time for personal pursuits and relaxation.

It’s all in the effort

Working remotely really can be your pathway to having work life balance, for real. No more panicking wondering how you’re gonna get the day out of the office to move into your new apartments, or waiting months to take your next vacation. You’ve got the flexibility to make sure work is only part of your life, rather than your life’s focus, but it takes effort to keep them in balance.

Whether it's setting clear boundaries, using time management tools like Toggl and RescueTime, or adopting proven methods like the Pomodoro Technique and Getting Things Done, there are many ways to stay organized and avoid burnout. By following these tips and using the right tools, you can effectively manage your time and create the environment for work-life balance to thrive. So, don't let the distractions of home life hold you back. Embrace the flexibility of remote work and make the most of it. You've got this!

Ready to put these tools to work and make the move to remote? We're hiring.