How can you improve your work-life balance in the age of remote work?

Routines offer stability, but life and work are dynamic. Being rigid can backfire when situations demand flexibility. Sometimes, priorities shift. You might need to work late to meet a project deadline. Here's where resilience comes in. Once the busy phase is over, bounce back to your regular routine. Smart trade-offs are crucial. Eg. you may choose to continue your exercise routine (because its more important for your), while pausing your reading routine temporarily to make more time for the work project. Adjust your life goals without feeling guilty. Making these prioritisation decisions is a skill, one that improves with practice. Adaptability is as important as having a routine. Both make you effective in work and life.

Block slots in your calendar in advance for self-care and personal time. This will also help others better understand your visibility and schedule around these activities. Otherwise, these activities will be relegated as work fills up whatever space is available. Beyond that having the discipline to hold to that calendar - unless there is a high level emergency - is crucial.

I love this by Warren Buffet: "The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything." Of course, I don't always practice what I preach, but this is the best piece of advice I have heard with regards to structuring your week and day. This also means that you have to say "no" to yourself. Plan your day in chunks so that the structure of your day is a comfort blanket and you know what to expect. Perhaps you like waking up at 6 in the morning to get all the priorities done by 9. Or you get up at 9 and enjoy a slow breakfast so that you start the day with everyone who's online. Either way, make sure it works both for your colleagues and for you and your family.