Remote work may sound like a dream come true, but in reality it can be pretty challenging. Many employees find it difficult to cope with the blurred lines between work and their personal life, and tend to overwork, feel stressed, and maybe even burnout.

Because of this it is important that you, as a leader, take steps to promote a healthy work-life balance for your remote teams. Here and now we’re going to look at 4 great ways you can do just that:

• Set clear expectations

Right from the start you need to set clear expectations for your remote teams that include work hours and availability as well as detailed instructions for tasks, deadlines, and goals. Letting all remote workers know what you expect will make it easier for them to structure their work and personal life accordingly.

If you’re going to be using Controlio for remote team monitoring, be sure to let them know how it will be used and what it will monitor as well. It may be a good idea to share the data it collects so they can gain insights into their own attendance, work hours and productivity too.

• Do not micromanage

The last thing that you should do is micromanage employees and look over their shoulder so to speak. Instead you should trust them and give them the freedom to handle tasks in their own way as long as they meet deadlines and deliver work that is up to scratch.

• Create a culture of open communication

Try your best to foster a culture that emphasizes open communication. Let your remote workers know that they can approach you if they have any concerns or issues. On top of that, you should check in with employees periodically as well to find out how they’re doing and if there’s anything that needs to be addressed.

• Encourage regular breaks

Working long hour in a stretch is not a good thing and can quickly lead to burnout. Make it a point to encourage your employees to take regular breaks every hour or two at a minimum.

The insights in Controlio will let you keep track of how regularly your remote workers take breaks as it will break down work hours and time spent active or idle. Rather than having to check manually, you can set the employee monitoring software to deliver reports to you via email at fixed intervals.

Together these four initiatives will go a long way towards helping your remote teams achieve a better work-life balance. However in order for them to be effective you will need to be proactive and take the time to keep tabs on your employees.

Despite the extra effort it entails, in the long run promoting a better work-life balance will work out in your own best interests. Not only will it reduce stress levels among remote workers and prevent burnout, but it will also ensure that employees are more engaged and productive.