When you’re away from an office, you might be tempted to sit at your desk till 3 a.m. to get that last project completed. Successful remote work requires you to put boundaries in place that protect both your work and your life from becoming inextricably linked. Know when to disconnect from remote work:
“Remember that if you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will.“
Create a schedule. Know when you will start and stop work each remote work day, when you will break for meals, and when you have other obligations that might interfere. Then do your best to stick to your schedule, which is harder than it sounds.
Value results over hours. For some people, setting time-based boundaries when working remote isn’t an option or just isn’t feasible. That’s okay. What matters is that you deliver on your projects. Be willing and able to put in the hours required to get things done on time, and most people won’t care when those remote work hours are.
Draw boundaries that make sense to you and that enable you to fulfill your obligations for remote work. Know when to disconnect. Just because you have mobile technology that goes wherever you go (including your kitchen or bedroom) doesn’t mean you have to stay tied to work 24×7.
Make sure you still give yourself the ability to “leave” your remote work desk every day. If you don’t, the quality of your work and your overall productivity can suffer.