Remote work has transformed how we approach our professional lives, blurring the lines between where we work and where we live in ways we never imagined. I’ve spent significant time working remotely, both as an individual contributor and as a leader managing distributed teams, and I’ve learned that creating boundaries isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential for maintaining both productivity and wellbeing.
When your kitchen table becomes your conference room and your bedroom doubles as your office, the traditional structures that once separated work from life disappear. Without these boundaries, work can bleed into every hour of your day, and personal time can feel like stolen moments. The key is to create new structures that work for remote settings, recognising that boundaries aren’t about building walls—they’re about creating clarity.
Physical Boundaries
The most obvious challenge with remote work is that your physical space serves multiple purposes. I’ve worked from kitchen counters, sofas, and even my bed (not recommended), and I can tell you that having a dedicated workspace makes all the difference.
Create a designated workspace: This doesn’t mean you need a separate room, though that’s ideal. A dedicated corner with a desk or even a specific chair that you only use for work can help signal to your brain that it’s time to focus. I set up a small desk in the corner of my living room, and just sitting at that desk immediately shifts my mindset into work mode.
Separate work and personal devices: If possible, keep work applications on a separate device or at least in separate browser profiles. This physical separation helps create mental separation. When I close my work laptop at the end of the day, I’m not tempted to check Slack notifications on my personal phone.
The commute ritual: One of the most effective techniques I’ve adopted is creating a “fake commute”—a short ritual that marks the transition between work and personal time. For me, this means a 10-minute walk around the block after I finish work, which gives my brain time to decompress and transition. It’s not about the physical distance; it’s about the mental space.
Temporal Boundaries
Time boundaries are perhaps more critical in remote work than physical ones. Without the natural cues of leaving an office, it’s alarmingly easy to work from morning until night.
Set clear work hours: Decide on your work hours and communicate them clearly with your team. I typically work from 9 AM to 6 PM, and I make it clear that I won’t be checking messages outside these hours unless it’s a genuine emergency. This isn’t about being inflexible—it’s about setting expectations and protecting your personal time.
Use calendar blocking: Block out your personal time in your calendar just as you would block out meetings. I schedule my lunch break, exercise time, and even my “end of day” transition time. This prevents work from creeping into these slots and signals to colleagues when you’re available.
Create morning and evening routines: Start your day with a routine that doesn’t involve immediately opening your laptop. Whether it’s exercise, meditation, or simply making a proper cup of coffee, these rituals help signal the start of your workday. Similarly, an end-of-day routine—perhaps reviewing what you accomplished, planning tomorrow’s priorities, and then physically closing your laptop—helps mark the boundary between work and personal time.
Managing Energy in Remote Settings
Remote work requires a different approach to energy management than office work. The lack of social interaction, the monotony of the same environment, and the challenge of maintaining focus all take their toll.
Schedule based on energy levels: Pay attention to when you’re most productive and schedule your most important work during those times. I’m a morning person, so I tackle my most challenging tasks before noon and save meetings and lighter work for the afternoon. This isn’t just about productivity—it’s about working with your natural rhythms rather than against them.
Take intentional breaks: In an office, breaks happen naturally—chatting with colleagues, grabbing coffee, walking to meetings. At home, these moments don’t exist unless you create them. I set reminders to take a 5-minute break every hour, and I actually step away from my desk. Even just standing up and looking out the window can reset your focus.
Create variety in your day: One of the challenges of remote work is the monotony. I combat this by varying my work environment when possible—working from a different room, taking video calls while walking, or even occasionally working from a local café. This variety helps maintain energy levels throughout the day.
Recognise the difference between being busy and being productive: It’s easy to feel busy when working from home—constant notifications, the ability to multitask, the temptation to “just quickly check” something. But being busy isn’t the same as being productive. I’ve learned to focus on outcomes rather than activity, which helps me manage my energy more effectively.
Communication Practices for Remote Teams
Boundaries aren’t just personal—they need to be respected by your team as well. Clear communication practices help everyone work effectively while maintaining healthy boundaries.
Establish communication norms: Set expectations about response times, preferred communication channels, and what constitutes an emergency. In my team, we have a clear policy: Slack messages don’t require immediate responses, emails can wait until the next working day, and texts are only for genuine emergencies. This clarity helps everyone respect each other’s boundaries.
Use async communication effectively: One of the biggest advantages of remote work is the ability to work asynchronously, but this requires discipline. I write detailed messages, use threads to keep conversations organised, and document decisions clearly. This reduces the need for constant back-and-forth and allows people to respond when it works for them.
Respect time zones: If you’re working with a distributed team, be mindful of time zones. Just because it’s 2 PM for you doesn’t mean it’s a good time to schedule a meeting for someone else. I always check time zones before sending calendar invites and try to rotate meeting times so the burden doesn’t always fall on the same people.
Create space for non-work communication: Remote teams can feel disconnected, so it’s important to create space for the casual interactions that happen naturally in an office. We have dedicated Slack channels for non-work conversations, and I make a point of checking in with team members about how they’re doing, not just what they’re working on.
Personal Experiences and Practical Tips
When I first transitioned to remote work, I made every mistake in the book. I worked from my sofa, checked email constantly, and felt guilty about taking breaks. It took me months to realise that this approach wasn’t sustainable—or productive.
The power of “done for the day”: One of the most liberating realisations I had was that there’s always more work to do, and that’s okay. Setting a clear “done for the day” time and sticking to it—even when there are tasks left unfinished—has been crucial for maintaining my boundaries and avoiding burnout.
Boundaries are about respect, not rejection: I used to worry that setting boundaries would make me seem uncommitted or unhelpful. But I’ve learned that boundaries actually enable better work. When I’m well-rested and have time for personal activities, I bring more energy and focus to my work. Plus, my team respects my boundaries because they have their own to protect.
Flexibility within structure: Having boundaries doesn’t mean being rigid. Some days, I need to work late to meet a deadline or start early for a time-sensitive project. The key is that these are exceptions, not the rule. I communicate these exceptions clearly and make sure to compensate with time off later.
Learn to say no: Remote work makes it easier to say “yes” to every request—after all, there’s no commute, so why not take on that extra project? But capacity is still capacity, whether you’re in an office or at home. Learning to say no professionally is even more important when working remotely.
Key takeaways
Remote work boundaries aren’t about creating rigid rules—they’re about creating structures that allow you to do your best work while maintaining your wellbeing. The physical, temporal, and energetic boundaries you set today will determine how sustainable your remote work arrangement is in the long term.
Remember that boundaries benefit everyone: they help you maintain focus and energy, and they help your team understand when and how to communicate with you. Most importantly, they allow you to fully disconnect from work, which is essential for recharging and bringing your best self to your job.
The beauty of remote work is its flexibility, but that flexibility requires discipline. By creating clear boundaries—physical, temporal, and communicative—you can enjoy the benefits of remote work without sacrificing your personal life or professional effectiveness. So, take the time to design boundaries that work for you, communicate them clearly, and then stick to them. Your future self will thank you.