Setting healthy boundaries at work is of utmost importance in creating a positive work-life balance. In the absence of such a boundary, job stress is likely to rise, resulting in burnout, dissatisfaction as well as physical or emotional exhaustion. According to research, one in six employed professionals have to deal with work-related stress and anxiety at any given point in time. This manifests itself in elevated blood pressure, sleep disturbance, migraine and gastrointestinal ailments.
So, it’s high time we pause to reflect on how we can make our working lives more positive. The first step lies in setting clear boundaries at work. HiCounselor brings you some of the best ways you can set those boundaries whatever your work situation.
Identify your Priorities
Although earning an income is essential to meet basic needs such as shelter and food, it is not your only priority. To determine how your energy and time should be allocated, you need to list your top priorities along with work. Your priorities with your family are as important as your priorities at work. Prioritize the tasks that are most important and avoid overextending yourself. After you have established your priorities, it is important to use your right to say no to last-minute tasks. If you value your lunch break, decline any meeting invitations. If you are offered additional work, it is okay to say no. You should consider whether the work you are offered will directly help you achieve your goals. If it doesn't, then it is okay to decline it.
Even Remote Work Needs Boundaries
Though working from home sounds really cool and a near-perfect deal for those who have additional commitments, remote work does come with its unique set of boundary issues. The different aspects of working from home that need to be addressed include an interesting new set of distractions. In fact, an employee who works remotely requires a far greater need for self-discipline while at the same time, finding reasons to leave home and get some fresh air. Remote workers also need to know when to put work down especially since you are always at your place of work. Often, remote work distractions become aplenty because we end up getting more notifications and work requests via email or platforms like Slack. Make sure you set your priorities straight so you make space for yourself in and around work.
Take your Time Off
Time off can be used to set boundaries and it allows you to take a step back from work. Especially for workaholics, it can be difficult to plan time off. It doesn't matter if you have a busy schedule or run your own business, you've earned it. Plan ahead and schedule your vacation or mental health days far in advance to get ahead of your busy schedule.
Seek Advice
It can be difficult to establish boundaries at work. Ask a mentor, manager, supervisor or coworker to discuss the ways they maintain boundaries at work. This conversation will allow you to share your boundaries with colleagues and it could even inspire you on a whole new level. Everybody has their own boundaries, so get inspired by those who have them.
Communicate Clearly
When it comes to defining boundaries at work, communication is crucial. Your personal boundaries at work can vary depending on who you are, so it is important to communicate your boundaries clearly with others if you want them to be respected. Inform your team that you will be leaving at a specific time each day. If you are not at work or signed off, tell your staff that you will not answer any emails or phone calls unless it is an emergency. Also, you can define the appropriate emergency for your team. In your email signature, add a note stating that you will only respond to emails during certain hours. You can set a timer to silence all notifications at the end of the day so emails and messages don't interrupt your dinner or family time. Slack and Teams can be removed from your personal devices to keep out notifications.
Establish Boundaries with Coworkers
Your personal life may be brought up during professional water cooler chats or happy hour over Zoom. You decide how much information you want to share with your coworkers. Once you have decided on the level of transparency you are comfortable with, it's time to set professional boundaries. Tell others that you prefer to have professional conversations. If you are open to sharing information, others may not be able to match your style.
Create Built-In Breaks
It's important to establish work boundaries and create a system to help you keep them. To reserve your lunch break, you can add it to your digital calendar each day. If you block it off, your colleagues will know that you are unavailable to schedule a meeting. This will remind you to take your lunch break at the appropriate time and not get distracted by work. You're not the only one who feels guilty about taking time off from work. Researchers discovered that guilt and anxiety can be a barrier to taking breaks from work. However, it is important to get past these feelings and not skip the breaks that free you from work-related stress. You can set reminders on your digital calendar to remind you when it is time to take a break and go for a walk or grab a snack.
Power Down Technology
The end of the workday is one of the most important boundaries. Remote workers often find this boundary blurred as technology and work are constants. Remote workers discovered that their workdays can be extended by almost 49 minutes. To maintain a work-life balance, it is important to set a deadline for when work must end and to power down. Pick a time for work to end and follow it every day. You won't feel tempted to send one more email if you make sure that all technology is off at night.
Stick to Routine
Routines are essential because they are our default behavior. You'll be more likely to make it a habit of starting and ending work at the same time each day. You can also incorporate a transition activity in your workday. You could do a 15-minute journaling session before work to get your mind going and a 30-minute exercise after work to reduce stress. Even if you don’t have any physical boundaries, having a routine that gets you into and out of work can help you create mental boundaries.
Separate Your Workspace
Although this might not be feasible for all work-from-home situations, you can create some separation between your remote workspaces and your personal space. If you have the space, you can put your WFH setup into a separate room and close the door at the end. If you have limited space or you are on a tight budget, you can close off your space by using a curtain or a movable partition. You can create a physical barrier to keep yourself out of a stressful environment.
Turn the Camera Off
You can also set a boundary for remote work by turning off your camera during meetings and calls. You may find yourself working in places where you sleep or eat. If this is something that you would prefer to keep private, turn your camera off. It's not your obligation to allow coworkers to see into your space and home. You can choose to have audio or background that's not too distracting.
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