12 September 2017
Without a doubt, the number one perk of working from home is greater work-life balance. Being able to pick the kids up from school, walking the dog at lunchtime and being able to schedule your working day however you want. But, it can be all too easy to get carried away. What if you find yourself working into the night because there is no ‘closing time’ or feel as though you should be chained to your desk because there is no boss to tell you to go home?
For short periods of time this is not a problem, if it means you get a booking over the line or achieve a goal you have set yourself, then being able to stay late is a blessing. But if you find yourself working every hour God sends, you can easily become exhausted, both mentally and physically.
We spoke to some of our Travel Counsellors to get their first-hand advice on striking that all-important work-life balance.
Tip #1 Be strict with yourself
“Plan your week and day. I set myself a timer if I need to do something at home, otherwise I won't notice time and will sit all day at the desk.” says Sarah. So whether you set alarms on your phone or plan each and every day, it’s important that you remember your breaks, and take them! Mary agrees: “Set timelines for switching off, have dinner as a family or meet up with friends for a coffee. You would take a lunch break if you worked in an office, so make sure you do the same when you work from home.”
Tip #2 But don’t be too hard on yourself
Being a Travel Counsellor means you have unparalleled flexibility. So you can pop out for lunch for a couple of hours, or leave at 3pm and come back at 7pm once the kids are sorted for the evening. And that’s exactly what Maeve does: “I always take the kids to and collect them from school. I also do regular breakfasts with friends or meet for a coffee if I'm not too busy and I do yoga or Zumba at least once a week.” Wouldn’t it be great to fit all of that in around work?
Tip #3 Unless it’s an emergency, it can wait
Just because you have your work at home, doesn’t mean you should be working during ‘home-time’. If you worked in a high-street agency, there would be very little you could do after closing time, so taking some of that mentality might be helpful to stop you getting overloaded. “It is important to prioritise clients, so you know what must be done and what can possibly wait that little bit longer. And unless your client is leaving on a plane that's about to take off, you can read that bedtime story.” says Fidelma. Of course, if you do have an out-of-hours emergency, you will have our 24/7 Duty Office to help you no matter what.
Tip #4 Remember the good stuff
Being busy is always a good thing, but if you’re ever feeling snowed under, take a step back, and relax. Andre says “Keep happy! Remember why you left your 9-5 job to become a Travel Counsellor. I try to have routine working hours where possible, and when the office is closed, I become mum/wife again.
Tip #5 Some straight-talking advice
“There is no magic answer, it is a constant challenge and one you have to keep working on. Family life is always changing so the balance must also evolve. The work/life balance doesn't just happen because you are working from home, you need to make the balance happen and stick to the plan that works for you, you can slip into old habits very easily!” says Jeanette.
As Jeanette said, balancing work and life when you work from home can be tricky. But it’s not something to be afraid of, in fact the opposite is true. 96% of Travel Counsellors say they love their job, and leaving the office behind is one of the reasons why. If you’re ready to reclaim your work-life balance, get in touch to get the ball rolling.
