15 Remote Company Leaders Offer Tips for Work-Life Balance

Finding work-life balance can be incredibly tricky, even when utilizing flexible work programs. Using the below tips from 15 remote company leaders can help you reach your goals when it comes to striking that balance. You may be surprised to see that it really isn’t about balance, but about setting limits and learning the value of work-life integration.

Check out the below tips from remote company leaders to help you strike a balance between work and life.

At the end of the day, it’s just life.

Rather than viewing work-life balance as a juggling act or scale where you try to balance everything out, look at it as just being life. Nothing is perfect, and there are going to be times when priorities and responsibilities collide. Rather than striving for balance, look for the potential in integration, and use flexibility to make the decision that is right for that situation. Sometimes family takes precedence, other times it might be work.

Remote company leaders:

Batchbook: Christelle Lachapelle. brand manager
Collage.com: Joe Golden, co-founder / co-CEO
Five Q: Wes Ward, VP of strategic growth

Be deliberate in your actions.

Rather than being fluid in your actions when facing work and life, make deliberate decisions and stick to them. If you set aside a specific time to spend with family and friends, do so by being present and leaving work alone (yes, put the phone down). If you aren’t deliberate in your choices, the lines between work and home can become very blurred.

Remote company leaders:

iDoneThis: Leif Singer, head of product
Beutler Ink: Rhiannon Ruff, vice president

Set a schedule and stick to it.

Having the ability to be flexible is absolutely freeing. At the same time, it can cause a bit of chaos. Set a daily schedule or ritual with work and stick to it to the best of your ability. Of course, it won’t be foolproof, but that’s the beauty of flexibility—it doesn’t have to be.

Remote company leaders:

GitHub: Coby Chapple, product designer
Formstack: Chris Byers, CEO

Don’t skimp on taking breaks.

Many remote workers have four legged co-workers to keep them company, which can serve as a great reminder to move away from the computer screen. Use your pets as a reminder to get up and stretch your legs.

Don’t have pets? No sweat! Consider the different responsibilities you have and create a schedule to complete them. Drop the kids off at school, throw the laundry in the wash, or simply check the mail. While you don’t want to get distracted by chores, simple activities like these can give you a quick and much-needed break.

Remote company leaders:

Groove: Alex Turnbull, founder and CEO
Codebusters: Tiffany Emigh, senior recruiter / account manager

Set boundaries.

When everything is connected and available 24/7, it can be hard to create clear boundaries of where work ends and life begins. Although this integration can be great during a typical day, when it comes to time off, it’s essential to set boundaries and stick to them. When your weekend rolls around, stay off of email and don’t log into work. Same applies for vacations. Unless there is an emergency, set your boundaries and don’t cross them.

Remote company leaders:

Ciao Bambino: Amie O’Shaughnessy, CEO
TNTP: Karolyn Belcher, president

Focus on your health and well-being.

Taking care of yourself is pertinent if you want to bring the best “you” to both your professional and personal lives. Having flexibility makes it easier to squeeze a bit of fitness and healthy eating into your schedule. And in the long run, by focusing on your health, you can achieve healthier stress levels and better balance.

Remote company leaders:

Go Fish Digital: Brian Patterson, partner
ICUC: Nicole van Zanten, director – marketing and communications

Designate “no work” zones.

When your house is your office, and your office is your house, it can be hard to know when and where work gets completed. Try setting “no work” zones so that when you are in those specific areas, you aren’t working, but focusing on other areas of your life.

Remote company leaders:

10up: Jake Goldman, president and founder
Hubstaff: Dave Nevogt, co-founder

Whether you’re striving for work-life balance, work-life integration, or simply “life,” these remote company leaders have some solid advice to get you moving in the right direction. And if you can’t find something that works for you, get creative! Work-life balance is such a personal concept that no two people will find what they need in the exact same format.