How to get the right work-life balance when working remotely?

Working from home can be a very positive thing : no stressful commuting time anymore, increased concentration and productivity due to decrease of "in office distractions", flexibility to arrange your schedule in a way that can accommodate personal commitments, etc. And at the same time, there is one big risk associated with it: not being able to draw the line between work and life anymore, pushing you to work "out of hours".

I have been working in a remotely mode for many years: as a corporate consultant when I used to "live in a suitcase", as a managing partner when I had to attend doctor's appointments for my young child, as a professional coach providing online coaching to clients throughout Europe and Africa.

In my experience, getting a satisfactory work-life balance for yourself is largely a question of putting suitable environment, discipline and habits in place.

Here are 5 tips to help you do so:

Making and arranging your own working space to physically make a distinction between working time and downtime. This space should only be used to work. And the more you make it comfortable for yourself, the better.
If you can not make a proper working space at home, go outside somewhere you know has quiet available space (a café, a public library, a family or friend's house, a co-working space)
Set up hourly routines: you need to define at what time you start working and at what time you will stop. Stick to that schedule, no matter what.
Avoid home distractions: Magazines, TV, Video Games, etc.
Pay special attention to planning/scheduling: it is key to have short-term priorities, medium-term actions and long-term goals placed in the order that will fulfil your company's expectations.