Setting boundaries at work is important so that you can manage your workload in a healthy way and maintain a work-life balance. Follow our six top tips.
Setting boundaries at work is imperative for your mental and physical health, as well as general well-being. If you don’t know how to communicate your boundaries and say no to when necessary, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and stressed which can lead to burnout. Instead of partaking in unhealthy hustle culture, try setting boundaries to effectively manage your workload. This will help you stay productive and focused, while maintaining work-life balance.
1. Know Your Limits
The first step to setting boundaries at work is to figure out what those boundaries are. Decide what is important to you and and how you want to navigate your work. This may include sticking to working hours and focusing on top priorities within your workload. You may also consider setting limits such as avoiding checking work emails outside of working hours, not bringing personal items into your workspace, or not bringing work items home with you. If you do decide to take on extra work or responsibilities, think about asking for overtime pay or a raise. Set these limits before you find yourself in a problematic situation, so that you have a roadmap in advance regarding how to handle it.
2. Communicate
Once you’ve set your limits, it’s important to effectively communicate them to your coworkers and superiors. Be honest about any concerns you have, and how you want to navigate them. Your company should provide you with the tools necessary for a safe and productive working environment, so make sure to tell them if there’s anything you need. Otherwise, just make your limits clear so that everybody knows what to expect from you. For example, if you are working from seven to three, make sure your nine-to-five colleagues know not to call you after 3PM.
3. Delegate
When work gets overwhelming, it may be necessary to delegate some tasks. When appropriate, and with the permission of your team or supervisor, it can actually increase productivity to reach out to others. This allows you to manage your workload and stay focused on the top priority assignments.
4. Say No
On the other hand, if you feel that tasks are constantly getting delegated to you even when you don’t have the capacity for more work, remember you have the right to say no. This can be difficult if you are a people-pleaser, or if the delegation is coming from your boss, but you don’t have to take on extra responsibility. If you have the time and space in your schedule, then go ahead and help out. Otherwise, set the boundary by telling people your schedule is full. If this is a reoccurring problem for you, consider speaking with your boss about expectations.
5. Ask for Help
Part of setting boundaries at work is asking for help when needed. Healthy working environments thrive on communication, so asking for help should be encouraged. Rather than going into a situation blindly and spending time inefficiently, ask for the help you need so you can perform the task correctly.
6. Take Time Off
Work-life balance is not only about shutting down your computer for the day, but also shutting down your brain for a couple weeks. You have PTO for a reason and you deserve to use it! If your company is reluctant to grant you vacation time, make sure to set your boundary and explain that it’s important for your physical and mental health to have a rest. Work will be there when you get back.
Read more:
- 5 Ways to Make Employment Work for You
- 11 Signs of a Toxic Workplace & Actions to Take
- 5 Reasons Why You Should Turn Off Your Phone
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