Creating Boundaries Between Work and Home Life When You Work Remotely

If you work from home, you know the struggle: it’s way too easy for work to seep into every part of your life. One minute, you’re done for the day, and the next, you realize you’ve been answering emails on your couch for an hour when you meant to be relaxing.

I’ve been there. And it took me more time than I’d like to admit to understand that without clear boundaries, my workday never really ended. I used to find myself thinking about tasks while making dinner, checking messages when I was hanging with friends (yikes), and generally feeling like I was always “on.” It wasn’t sustainable.

So, I started setting boundaries—physical, digital, and structural—to reclaim my time. Feeling like your work life is creeping into all areas of your home life? These tips are designed to help you create separation and find a healthier balance.

Why Boundaries Matter

When you work in an office, there’s a natural divide: you physically leave work at the end of the day. At home, that separation doesn’t exist unless you create it.

Without clear work-life boundaries:

• It’s harder to fully relax, leading to burnout.
• You feel like you should always be working, even when you’re “off.”
• Productivity actually decreases because your brain never gets a true break.

Read that last one again, cause that was a huge realization for me:

Productivity actually decreases because your brain never gets a true break.

Many of us worry that setting boundaries signals that we’re less dedicated to our work. That’s simply not true. Setting boundaries helps you focus when you’re working and unplug when you’re not.

Creating Physical Boundaries

One of the best ways to separate work from personal life is to define a physical workspace. If your work stuff is everywhere, it’s harder to mentally check out.

Set Up a Dedicated Workspace

• If possible, work in a separate room or a specific corner of your home.
• No extra room? Try a desk in a quiet area or even a small table you can tuck away after hours.
• If you have to work in shared spaces (like the kitchen table), put your work setup away at the end of the day—out of sight, out of mind. (It’s nicer for the people you share the space with, too.)

Use Visual Cues to Mark Work vs. Personal Time

• Close your laptop when you’re done for the day (this one seems small, but it works). I put my computer to sleep and plug in my mouse.
• Change clothes to signal the transition from “work mode” to “home mode.”
• If you can, separate your work devices from personal ones. At the very least, use different browsers or profiles.

Try a “Commute” Ritual

I know what you’re thinking: “But I got rid of my commute…” But putting a small one back in can really help your brain switch from “home” to “work” mode. You could:

• Go for a 5-10 minute walk at the start and end of your workday.
• Do a quick stretch or breathing exercise to shift your mindset.
• Use music or a podcast to separate work time from home time.

Setting Clear Work Hours

I think we can all agree that one of the biggest perks of remote work is the flexibility. But without structure, it’s easy for work to stretch into all hours. For me, sometimes it literally feels like work is following me around the house. Here’s what you can do to distinguish more separation:

Define Your Start and End Times

• Pick a work schedule that fits your lifestyle and stick to it.
• Set a hard stop for the day. When it’s time to log off, log off. 
• If you can, experiment with time-blocking to create focus periods.

Communicate Your Availability

• Let coworkers or clients know when you’re on and when you’re offline.
• Use an out-of-office message or status update for after-hours boundaries.
• If needed, set expectations with family or roommates so they respect your work hours too. (I overlooked this one in the beginning and let me tell you, once established this boundary was so so helpful!)

Managing Digital Boundaries

Even if you physically shut your laptop, digital distractions can pull you right back into work mode. A Slack message here, a quick peek at an email there…before you know it, you’re working again. Or at the very least, thinking about work again. 

If you struggle with digital separation, here’s how you can start setting boundaries:

• Use app blockers to prevent access to work apps after hours. If you know you have a habit of checking Slack, email, or project management tools in your free time, tools like Freedom or AppBlock can help.
• Consider removing work apps from your phone entirely. If that feels like too big of a step, start with one (I axed email first) and see how it feels.
• Communicate your availability to coworkers and clients. Let them know when and how they can reach you, and stick to it. If you don’t want unexpected work calls, make it clear that you only take pre-scheduled calls. Anything outside of that, don’t pick up.
• Close work-related tabs at the end of the day. If you use your laptop for personal tasks too, the last thing you need is to see an unfinished project when you’re just trying to unwind. Make closing all work tabs part of your shutdown routine.
• Turn off notifications for work apps outside of working hours. If an email is truly urgent, people will find a way to reach you or they will figure out the solution themselves. In my experience though, most things can wait.

Setting digital boundaries is tough. When modern communication is so slick, it can seem reasonable to be “on” and connected at all times. But it isn’t. Protect your peace. Set some boundaries.

The Power of a Shutdown Routine

When I first started working remotely, I’d log off but still feel mentally stuck in work mode. So, I started experimenting with a shutdown routine.

A shutdown routine signals to your brain that the workday is over. Here are some simple ways to do this:

• Wrap up your day with a checklist – Make a quick to-do list for tomorrow so you’re not thinking about unfinished tasks. This one is my favorite.
• Physically log out of work apps – Shut down your work laptop, close tabs, leave your home office space. I usually head to the gym or start prepping dinner.
• Switch gears with a ritual – Change into comfy clothes, light a candle, play music, or do something that tells your brain, we’re done with work now.

Set Those Boundaries, Protect Your Peace

Working from home doesn’t mean work has to take over your home life. By creating boundaries, you can start to separate work time from your personal time.

And remember: setting and sticking to boundaries takes practice. It’s okay if you need to start slowly or if you “mess up”. Adjust and keep going. Your work will be better when you give yourself real breaks, and your personal life will feel more like yours again.

Which of these tips are you going to try? Do you already have a favorite way to unplug? Feel free to share—you might inspire others. ✨ And sign up for our newsletter, Making it Brighter, for more remote work tips.