You’re working remotely in information security. How can you keep your work-life balance from falling apart?

I’ve been working almost entirely remote since 2015 across various companies, and I have both a wonderful and horrible “work-life balance”. A friend of mine once said that ‘it isn’t about work life balance, it is about work life integration.’ This is how I operate, to include with my National Guard service. I give my employers and my Commander my time even after hours or on weekends, with the understanding that I will be flexible with them as long as they are flexible with me. Whether it is running out to pick up a kid, meeting someone for lunch, having to perform extra National Guard duty…. I flexibly take care of them as long as they continue to flexibly take care of me.

I have been working remotely for a while now and one thing i highly recommend in order to maintain a healthy work-life balance is to start by establishing clear boundaries between work and personal life, such as defining specific work hours and creating a designated workspace free from distractions. Practice self-care by incorporating regular exercise, healthy eating habits, and sufficient sleep into your routine to support physical and mental well-being. Stay connected with colleagues, friends, and family members through virtual meetings, social media, or phone calls to maintain a sense of community and combat feelings of isolation. Also, get a dedicated work phone so that you can more comfortably disengage from work in peace.

Sometimes if you are lucky you can get an ideal space like an office but away from home, this will be an ideal remote working place if you get all the facilities like a good internet connection, spacious table, and a quite place. But many times we envision remote working is working from home where we reside 24 x 7, this many times is not 100% convenient for working without distractions especially if you have kids at home. Therefore, find the most quite space in the house where you can also get a good internet reception. Then, compare home with work schedule and see where there's most distractions, this time can be used for timeout from work. Adjust your home timetable accordingly, the global time differences can be a blessing in disguise!

There is no cookie-cutter way for everyone. Whether you are utilizing time blocking techniques or workload prioritization. You will always find yourself in meetings that could be slack threads or writing documentation everyone ignores. Most important is to connect with your peers and establish roles where you each find where you can be most effective. Then make sure you're not pulled in 50 directions. Decide on your tools, utilize them. Set time each year to make sure they are the best options moving forward. Network with other parts of the company, we're social creatures, then create boundaries around your time.

Here are some strategies : Prioritize Tasks: Use time management techniques, such as the Eisenhower Matrix or the Pomodoro Technique, to prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance, ensuring you focus on high-priority activities first. Take Regular Breaks: Use break times to stretch, walk, meditate, or engage in hobbies or activities that help you relax and rejuvenate your mind and body. Establish Work-Life Integration: Find creative ways to integrate work tasks and personal activities, such as scheduling virtual coffee breaks with colleagues or taking work calls while walking. Seek Support: When needed, reach out to friends, family members, or colleagues for support and encouragement.

To maintain work-life balance while working remotely in information security: * Set clear boundaries and a dedicated workspace * Establish regular working hours and stick to them * Take breaks and use vacation time * Disconnect from work-related tasks outside of work hours * Prioritize self-care and exercise * Schedule time for personal activities and hobbies * Set realistic goals and communicate them to your team * Learn to say "no" to excessive work demands * Use technology to facilitate work-life balance (e.g., time tracking, automation) * Regularly evaluate and adjust your work-life balance.