For employees working from home, it can be difficult to detach after your shift. There is no shuttle to mark the beginning and end of the workday, no scene change to signal a transition from “work” to “home” mode.

But there are ways for remote workers to maintain their work-life balance, says Angela D. Coleman, holistic health specialist and author of “The Art of Chilling for Women.”

“If we… don’t create boundaries and redefine how we want to exist in the world, it just never ends,” she says, explaining how a one-sided work-life balance can lead to burnout. “We can be more productive… by incorporating some of these habits into our daily lives.”

If you want to improve yours ability to separate After a long day working from home, here are Coleman’s tips:

set limits

“Working from home does that mean you’re on call 24/7? If you respond all the time like you’re on call 24/7 for everyone, they’ll keep doing it because you know no boundaries,” explains Coleman.

She adds that it’s important not only to set boundaries, but also to communicate and enforce them.

This can be done by setting specific times when you reply to messages.

It is also important to respect your own limits. For example, be honest with yourself about what you can do the next morning to log off on a schedule.

Coleman also says people should realize that this shift may take time, and that’s okay.

“In the end, we (the people around us) have to train our limits, especially when they’re new and different,” she says. “Give them some time and be patient with them while they get used to the boundaries you have set in motion because your situation or circumstances have changed.”

Create separate rooms

As someone who worked from home even before the pandemic, Coleman says she’s learned the importance of creating a physical space that separates work from personal life.

“These are chill-out areas that you can literally just go to and ground yourself,” she says, explaining that burnout can lead to feeling “everywhere… like you’re not attached to anything,” hence grounding exercises can help counteract this.

One way she encourages people to detach from their jobs is to take breaks in nature whenever possible — even if it’s just stepping onto a small balcony or opening a window.

Time spent outdoors can be profound effect on mental healthmaking it a great way to transition from work to chill mode.

Watch out for burnout

So you’ve defined your boundaries and created spaces to escape from work – now it’s time to actually relax and look out for burnout.

While some countries have considered legal action to prevent burnout in the workforce, such as Guidelines for after-hours communicationsthere is no such legislation in the US – which means that it is up to the employer and the employee to find their way around.

Coleman suggests staying alert when previous habits (like pushing or ignoring boundaries) resurface during a busy schedule, and reacting and adjusting before burnout sets in.