What do you do if your work-life balance is suffering while working remotely as an e-learning professional?

Start & End: Have a clear 'start work' ritual (change clothes, make coffee, specific music) and an 'end work' routine (close laptop, put away work tools). Breaks: Schedule intentional breaks for movement, fresh air, or a non-work activity. Pomodoro techniques can be helpful here. "Third Space": Carve out a time/activity that's neither work nor home – a quick gym session, a walk, a dedicated hobby. This allows mental switching.

Establish formal and very clear governance in the relationship with your connections. Governance must be very well understood and accepted. In the same way, but internally, you must take care of Management and follow through, mitigating risks as much as possible due to lack of predictability. Therefore, the key to Success is largely in great Communication.

If you are allowed flexibility, you should be able to find what works for you. Schedule your breaks and try out different routines to get your day started, and stick with them for at least a few weeks to allow yourself time to adjust and see if it's working. You may also need to work around business needs (if your organization or main clients operate on east coast time and you live in the west coast, you may need to have an early start, take a longer break, and resume work).

Working remotely does have its benefits such as flexibility, potentially better work-life balance, work from any secure location, and use of different technologies to increase productivity. I have found that my workday is the most productive and efficient if I make a set routine or schedule. It keeps me focused and on task. To keep from being burned out, I take frequent breaks throughout the day. This also helps me rest my eyes and my brain. Taking a mental break is important for me. I am able to reset, get energized and motivated to accomplish the next goal for the day.

Please start your day with exercise - 30 minutes is the ideal, 60 minutes will be great. It can be walking, swimming, lifting weight, jogging, anything that makes your cardio remember you are a living human. Your productivity will rise meaning you can work less hours to deliver more - leaving more space for your family, for yourself. Go after the 4 week day dream.

Workspace setup is crucial to performance. Are you getting natural sunlight? Can you sit or stand and change positions comfortably? Can you keep your space clean and free of distractions, as well as engaging and welcoming enough to make you feel at ease when starting up work?

Dedicate a specific workspace, even within a smaller apartment. This helps mentally separate work and personal life. Also, set a schedule and stick to it as much as possible. This avoids work "bleeding" into your personal time. Final, communication: clearly communicate your working hours to colleagues, clients, and even family to manage expectations

I can not stress enough how important it is to have a dedicated workspace in your home. You have to do what works for you but keeping in mind privacy and security of your work and others that may be collaborating with you on a project. For those instructors that have to present Live, they must keep in mind their surroundings and does it meet all the academic and technical requirements.

This is where calendars are key and self discipline is crucial. Set each meeting for 45 minutes max and then get up and walk away during the last 15 minutes before your next appointment. Go stand outside. Grab a healthy snack. Read a chapter in a book. Anything but staring at the screen. Always eat lunch away from your computer. Block it on your calendar daily. When the day ends, get out of your home office. Do not go back in until the next day! The pull will be real, but your body and mind will be thankful for the crucial separation.

Google Calendar folks. Set aside specific days each month or quarter as "virtual office retreat" days. One these days, commit to stepping away from your regular work station, and tasks to focus solely on self-care and rejuvenation. Disconnect from work-related emails, and messages, and set up auto-responses to notify colleagues and clients.

Fully remote workers often have a greater burden of communication, as you can't casually stop someone in the hallway to catch up, you can't be seen to be working on current projects, and you aren't physically present. To avoid miscommunication, I take an approach of asking myself what updates and communication I'm expecting to get asked about on any given day. By considering what's likely to be requested, I can get ahead of update inquiries and be proactive.

From my experience, working in a remote environment in higher education, I have felt isolated at times. When you do not have a support system, this can lead to frustration and potentially affect the quality of instruction regardless of your intention. Having support and a community of like minded individuals can help you with getting feedback on your performance, sharing of tips and resources, and establishing a mentorship. I know that I feel more energized and motivated when I have social interaction and a team of people that are collaborating well. I have also found that I have become more comfortable being alone because I am used to staying at home and working alone. Everyones situation is different and you have to do what works for you.

Make sure to prioritize your work; focus on the things that will have the biggest business impact and when you’re not able to do everything, at least you’ve delivered what matters most. Along this line, don’t let perfect get in the way of meeting more needs sufficiently.

To maintain a work-life balance while working remotely, "knowing one's limits" is the key. I feel that is important because: 1. By knowing your capacity, you can avoid overworking and the emotional exhaustion that comes with it. You'll be more focused and more productive. 2. Knowing your limits will allow you to make informed decisions about your workload. You can say no to extra tasks or unrealistic deadlines without guilt, knowing your well-being is a priority. 3. Being constantly overwhelmed by work is a major stressor. Setting boundaries and respecting your limits reduces work anxiety and frees up mental space for personal fulfillment. 4. Also, prioritizing rest, hobbies, and relationships outside work makes you happier and healthier.

When I first transitioned to remote work, I'd often work through the evenings, telling myself "just one more email." This led to almost a burnout. I then implemented a policy – if the task wasn't urgent enough to warrant a phone call, it could wait until the morning. This surprisingly simple rule was a game-changer!