Good or Bad? Impact of Remote Work on Work-Life Balance

Is remote work good or bad for your work-life balance?

When the pandemic struck, we had to maintain distance and recommend or enforce staying home as much as possible. This resulted in remote working becoming the norm. If you have experienced it, you may have mixed feelings about it. While some appreciate the flexibility and independence that comes with remote working and wish to continue it after the pandemic, others believe it negatively impacts their well-being and work-life balance. Therefore, it is essential to consider how remote work affects these factors, particularly for working mothers. Let’s dive in!

What is the impact on productivity?

Lately, I have noticed a growing number of companies that are requesting their employees to work from the office. My job alerts on LinkedIn indicate that most positions require on-site or hybrid work, with remote working arrangements becoming less common. While this trend may be specific to my industry or region, it seems to be gaining traction. For example, my husband’s company recently shifted their work-from-home policy from 50% remote and 50% on-site to 70-80% on-site, with employees only allowed to work from home once a week. The primary reason for this change is that the company has observed that productivity tends to decrease when employees are not working in the office.

What are the statistics supporting these arguments?

This is a controversial subject, and research has shown different results. According to the working paper from Stanford’s Institute for Economic Policy and Research, working fully from home leads to a 10-20% decrease in productivity. However, a hybrid working situation can encourage people to be more productive, as 58% of employees reported that they are more productive at home, according to a survey conducted by McKinsey. 

How does remote work affect the work-life balance?

Remote work affects work-life balance differently for each individual and is a subjective experience. Personally, remote work has allowed me to lead a more relaxed lifestyle by saving time that would have been spent commuting and getting ready for work. I am able to spend this extra time on my family, do household chores, or even work longer hours to complete tasks. However, some individuals may find that remote work blurs the boundaries between work and personal life, causing more stress and leading to longer work hours. Indeed, 30% of remote working employees reported increased working hours while fully remote working, which can lead to burnout for the employees.

The “Good” of remote work

Freedom to set flexible hours for housework and self-care

Fit your schedule, such as working out in the morning before starting working (since you have saved your commuting time) or doing groceries during your lunch break. 

Flexible working hours 

You have the flexibility to adjust your work schedule to your productivity patterns. For instance, if you find that you work better in the evening, you can allocate more hours to work during that time and start later in the morning. This approach can be practical for you as long as you complete your tasks and attend meetings to collaborate with your colleagues.

As a mother who works full-time, my mornings and evenings are always busy and chaotic as I care for my children. I find it best to work when the house is quiet and my children are asleep to be more productive. This schedule has worked perfectly for me.

The “Bad” of remote work

You may feel isolated

Working remotely may make you feel isolated as colleagues in the office do not constantly surround you. Checking someone’s work calendar has become necessary before reaching out to them for a conversation. It’s not as simple as walking by someone’s desk and chatting anymore.

Losing your boundaries

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance can be challenging, as it may lead to blurred boundaries between your personal and professional life. With the convenience of working from home, it’s easy to find yourself completing tasks in the evening before bed. Additionally, your coworkers may expect you to be available at all times, including evenings, as some may be working during those hours and require your input.

As a working mom, time is always running out, and it can be hard to maintain boundaries. Your ambition may push you to work longer hours and sacrifice sleep to keep up with colleagues or help out.

Let’s get real: how was it for working mom?

My experience of working full-time at home

During the time when I worked entirely from home, I found it to be an excellent way to save money on transportation and have more time to prepare for my day. I felt more relaxed in the mornings and evenings, knowing I could finish work around 5:30 p.m., have enough time to make dinner and put my children to bed without any rush. I could also reconnect and continue working once my children were asleep, giving me more flexibility and freedom in my work schedule. However, there were some setbacks on remote work since I experienced burnout and blurred work-life boundaries, as I blogged about last time. 

My experience of working part-time at home (hybrid)

When the pandemic faded, I returned to work 50% of the time, a hybrid working model, and I loved this change. I took turns with my husband that when I work from home, I would take care of the children and meals in the morning and the evening, but on the days when I go to work, he would take care of the children and meals. This allowed me to have a relaxed morning and evening, and since I would go to the office 50% of the time, I could separate those working at the office during the day and others to find a work-life balance in between.

So, the hybrid working situation increased my overall well-being, but the remote working situation harmed my personal life. In addition, as a working mom, I cannot pull off being a ‘digital nomad‘ even if I can work remotely, so the benefit of a working mom’s remote work situation was perhaps less than that of single people. 

What will I do if I choose between working full-time remotely or on-site?

If I had to choose between working remotely or in an office, I would choose remote work without hesitation. My family dynamic benefits from the flexibility of dividing household responsibilities with my husband. If required to work on-site full-time, I would have little time for self-care and feel rushed. Overall, the advantages of remote work outweigh those of traditional office work for a working mother.

Mitigating the Shortcomings of Remote Work

Keep work-life balance

Losing work-life balance is a real problem. You do not want to invite burnout and losing boundaries in your life. So, if you are a working mom, working from home, and even if you are not a working mom or not a mom, it is essential to make sure that you draw a clear line between your work and your personal life. 

As I addressed in my previous article, you need to set clear boundaries for maintaining your work-life balance, and it is not only for when you are working from home but also when you are working on-site. 

Set boundaries 

The great advantage of remote work is that it gives you the freedom you need and the flexibility you desire. Use the benefits to do what you need to do care for yourself. But create an explicit schedule that you are strictly working for the set working hours without distractions, and close your laptop when the working hour is over. 

Also, good communication with your colleagues helps them understand your availability and set a clear borderline between your work and personal life. 

Small breaks

Finally, make sure you take small breaks during the workday. It shall improve your performance and well-being, as suggested by the study by UC computer scientists.

When working from home all day, it can be easy to forget to take breaks. I used to work for hours without interruption until I experienced burnout. Now, I set an alarm for every two hours to remind myself to take a break. Although it may seem like a long time, I find that taking a short break helps me refresh and refuel, allowing me to work more productively for longer periods of time.

Be mindful

Mindfulness is your great supporter to keep you balanced in your life. I have discussed this in my various blog posts, but mindfulness means being fully aware of your actions, surroundings, and mental state. It involves intentionally avoiding automatic or habitual behaviors and instead moving with conscious control. Consider using meditation apps that guide you through the process to enhance your mindfulness. I suggest trying out the Headspace app, which guides your mindful journey and helps you select the most suitable program or method to enhance your self-awareness and learning. Use this link (affiliate link) to get 7-14 days free trial!

Final thoughts

Working remotely can be an excellent option for moms who want to manage their time and energy effectively. However, it’s essential to be aware of this arrangement’s benefits and drawbacks. To ensure a successful remote work experience, it’s essential to prioritize your work-life balance and take the necessary steps to mitigate any adverse effects. After all, maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial for your well-being and your family. Personally, I struggled with discipline at first and found myself working long hours on many days. If you’re in a similar situation, you might want to consider the hybrid working model until you get more comfortable setting clear boundaries. Once you feel more confident, you can try working remotely full-time. I’m confident it will work out for you, too!

P.S. If you learn about how to create an ideal remote working environment, click here to learn more about it!