So how exactly can you tell if you have a healthy work-life balance? It can look a little different for everyone (since we all have different work, family, and relationship situations).

The following are a few signs that you’re striking a good balance between your job and other areas of your life:

• You don’t feel like the demands of your work roles and personal obligations are constantly in conflict
• You’re able to meet your deadlines at work without having to work overtime
• You’re getting plenty of sleep at night and eating a healthy, balanced diet
• You don’t spend the end of your weekend consumed by the “Sunday Scaries”
• You have plenty of time to relax and enjoy your hobbies
• You feel like you’re spending enough time with family and friends
• You don’t worry about your job when you’re not at work
• You feel like you’re being productive at work and making progress toward your professional goals, but you don’t feel like your whole identity hinges on your job
• You’re taking your vacation days (and using your sick days when you need them)
• You’re taking advantage of any work-life benefits your employer offers

Remember that work-life balance isn’t something you can just check off your to-do list. It’s only natural that the demands of your job and outside life shift and change over time. That means that what you need to keep the balance will change over time.

With a good work-life balance, a person is less likely to be rigid with their schedule, instead, they are able to be flexible and can adapt to include demands that may come up professionally or personally without disrupting the feeling of balance.

We will conclude this discussion with one final interesting aspect and that is:

Finding work-life balance while working remotely

One might think working remotely would make it easier to achieve a work-life balance. However, remote work presents its own challenges. Working outside of the office tends to mean multitasking, distractions, and difficulty keeping strict hours — all bad news for productivity as well as keeping work and life separate.

There are some obvious upsides. It’s never been easier to bring your own lunch to work, rush hour is a thing of the past, and it only takes a minute to toss in a load of laundry before your next meeting.

However, engaging in multiple activities in the same space makes it harder for your brain to distinguish between work and leisure. We lack the normal cues of people leaving the office to signal when it is time to wrap up work.

When your “office” is a corner of your bedroom or your dining room table, it makes it hard to stop thinking about work when work is done — and easy to check your email just one more time. And, although we gain time back from a commute, many people miss that space and time to transition from home life to work and work life to home.

“Convenience” is Not the Same as Balance

Some employees are more likely to say that their “work-life balance” improves when they can work from home. But, what this really means is that working from home makes managing one’s personal life easier and more convenient.

We can all agree that it’s helpful, convenient, and easier when we can manage our personal lives without interference from work. For example, when our workplace is our home, we can stay in pj`s all day, work out, run a quick errand, throw in a load of laundry, prep dinner, go to a doctor’s appointment, and care for a sick family member, all while still doing varying amounts of “work” AND—the real benefit— while mostly keeping these behaviours hidden from others, so there is no need for explanations or permission.

Conversely, when we must report to an office for work, some of the personal activities listed above are impossible, and the rest require us to receive permission from, provide an explanation to, or balance the expectations of, other people. This freedom from permission/explanation/expectations is what makes working from home easier and more convenient. It allows us to fill small gaps in our work day with personal tasks and activities, so we can get more of those done. We might say that working from home allows us to be productive in our personal lives while working. And this is why many people like it.

Often, this benefit of freedom and convenience is referred to as a better “work-life balance.” But “balance” and “convenience” aren’t the same. Studies show that remote workers often work more hours than people who report to an office, taking their time away from other things. Also, remote work doesn’t alleviate the challenges described above of back-to-back meetings, always-on expectations, or constant distractions. So while remote work can offer convenience and freedom, this shouldn’t be mistaken for balance.