DEAR HARRIETTE: I’ve recently transitioned to working from home full-time, and I’m finding it challenging to separate my work life from my personal life. While my home office setup is functional, it has made it harder for me to switch off from work mode at the end of the day. I find myself checking emails or thinking about tasks long after my workday is supposed to end. I have often caught myself working late into the evening because my office space is so integrated into my living area. It’s been difficult to create a clear boundary between work and home life, and I feel like my productivity during work hours is starting to wane as a result. I want to establish a routine that allows me to be productive while also making the most of my downtime. How can I create effective boundaries and a schedule that helps me balance work and personal time, ensuring that I stay focused during work hours but also genuinely enjoy my time off? -- Work-From-Home Balance

DEAR WORK-FROM-HOME-BALANCE: Establish office hours for yourself, including breaks, and enter them into your calendar. Also, set alarms for key pivot points in the day -- such as the start of your day, lunch, breaks and the end of your day. Train yourself to turn off your computer when your day is complete, unless you anticipate some kind of extenuating circumstances that might require your attention. Turn off the light on your desk, and possibly cover it so that you cannot see your work papers. If you treat your workspace as singularly for work and shut it down entirely when you are not working, you will begin to think of it as a separate space even though it’s in your house.

DEAR HARRIETTE: After moving to New York to live with my mom, I’m finding it hard to meet new people and make meaningful connections. I’ve attended a few local events lately and joined some clubs, but I still feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. One recent experience was a networking event where I made some small talk but left feeling more isolated than connected. I’m looking for effective ways to network and create friendships without feeling like it’s a constant struggle. What are some practical tips for a 26-year-old trying to meet new people and build a social network in a new city? I’d appreciate any advice on making this transition easier and more enjoyable. -- Building a Social Network

DEAR BUILDING A SOCIAL NETWORK: Give yourself time. It takes a while to meet people and develop meaningful relationships with them. Continue to go to networking events, preferably in areas of interest to you personally and to your career. Look up activities that involve groups or even crowds. Take yourself to these events and make a plan to speak to at least three people while you are there. Go up to people who look interesting, and strike up a conversation with them. Learn something about the person. Share something about yourself and be willing to engage. Don’t give up.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m trying to start a daily journaling habit for personal growth, but I’m struggling to find the time and stay consistent. I really want to make journaling a regular part of my life, but it’s been challenging to fit it into my daily routine. I end up too busy or too tired by the end of the day to write, and as a result, I haven’t kept up with it as I’d hoped. I’d love to hear your thoughts on how to make journaling a sustainable and enjoyable practice. Are there any tips for incorporating it into my daily life without it feeling like a chore? Also, based on your experience, do you think journaling is truly worth the effort? I’m eager to hear your perspective and any advice you might have on making this habit stick. -- Daily Journaling Habits

DEAR DAILY JOURNALING HABITS: Like any other new habit, you have to really commit to doing it. In the beginning, it will likely not be easy. It has been said that anything you do consistently for 30 days can take root as a habit, so consider giving yourself one whole month before you give up on your idea.

Nobody said you have to journal at night. Pick a time of day that works for you. Consider journaling before you get out of bed. Wake up, stretch, take a sip of water and write. Keep a journal at your bedside and write down whatever thoughts are coming up for you that morning. Words, phrases, sentences or even images may emerge. Write them down or draw them. Do this each day, and look back at your notes at the end of the day to see what you have harvested.

I find that journaling helps me to gain clarity around my thoughts and can provide direction for next steps if I pay attention to what I capture. It is definitely worth it.

DEAR HARRIETTE: This letter is regarding “Birthday Blues,” the person who wrote in about celebrating their birthday in a new city. Here's another suggestion for her, or for other introverts who dread their birthdays because their friends don't remember and they don't like spending it alone. For my birthday, I always invite three good friends to help me celebrate my birthday by meeting at a local restaurant. It saves them the embarrassment of forgetting my birthday, and it ensures that I will be spending my birthday with people I like. We each pay for our own meals, and it has become an annual event that we all enjoy. -- Introvert’s Celebration

DEAR INTROVERT’S CELEBRATION: I love the idea of planning your own special moment and inviting people to join you. This solves the worry of whether or not people will remember your birthday. Plus, inviting more than one person makes it more likely that people will show up. Finally, being clear that there is no expectation of anyone footing the whole bill takes the pressure off of your invited guests.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions toaskharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m dealing with a health issue that requires significant dietary changes, and I’m struggling to make it work with my family’s eating habits. I’ve had to cut out gluten and dairy, but my family continues to enjoy dishes that include these ingredients. They often have pasta night with creamy sauces, which has been really tough for me, both physically and emotionally. I have felt left out as I sit there with my separate meal, and it seems like the divide between what I need to eat and what everyone else enjoys is growing wider. I’ve tried to make my meals fit in with the family’s routine, but it’s challenging when everyone’s tastes and habits are so different from mine. I don’t want to act “special” and make my dietary needs a source of tension at home. How can I talk to my family about incorporating my dietary needs into our meals without making it feel like a burden or causing resentment? -- Dietary Challenges

DEAR DIETARY CHALLENGES: This feels especially difficult for you because it is so new. Many people have to change their diets and adjust their meals accordingly. There will probably continue to be many nights when you must eat a different meal from your family. That’s OK. What you can do to get them to consider some of your meals is to get creative and prepare dishes that look and taste delicious, even though they do not have the ingredients that your family is accustomed to. Look up recipes and introduce new ideas to the table. Over time, they may come to like some of your choices.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My best friend and I have been excitedly planning a vacation together for months, just the two of us. We’ve talked about our plans, chosen destinations and envisioned how we’d spend our time catching up and enjoying each other’s company. Lately, though, she’s been hinting about bringing along her new partner, whom I’ve never met.

I have to admit, I’m feeling a bit uncomfortable about the idea. I was really looking forward to this trip. From the stories she’s shared, it seems like her boyfriend might be controlling. I’m worried that if he comes along, it could change the vibe of our vacation, but I’m also nervous that she won’t come if he’s not included. I don’t want to seem unsupportive of their relationship, but I’m also concerned about how this could impact the trip we’ve both been so excited about. How do I remind her of our original plans? -- Vacation Trouble

DEAR VACATION TROUBLE: Talk to your best friend directly about your original plans for a BFF vacation. Acknowledge that it is wonderful that she has a partner now, but this trip is supposed to be for the two of you. Ask her to honor your commitment to each other for this trip. Who knows? You may never get another chance to do this together. Whether or not the boyfriend is controlling, the trip will be completely different if there are three of you -- especially since this is a new love interest. Say no to the third wheel, even if it means the trip gets canceled. You are bound to be miserable if you go through with it.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)