5 Ways You Can Start Setting Boundaries at Work Today
If you’re a people-pleaser like me, setting boundaries at work can seem like the most painstaking thing in the world. You feel like you’re The Worst Coworker Ever™ and feel like you’re not doing “good enough” at your job. I said it once (or maybe a couple hundred times) and I’ll say it again: Your productivity does not equal the value, skill and energy you bring to your career and the workplace. In fact, learning how to set boundaries at work actually sets you up for more success because you’re able to show up as your best self to your work and your team.
If you’re stumped on where to start, look no further than these five ways to set boundaries at work:
5 Ways to Start Setting Boundaries at Work
1. Set your “hard stop” time
Setting defined “off-the-clock” hours is critical for drawing the line between work and your personal life. Depending on if you work a 9 to 5 or you’re your own boss, this step may look a little different to you. If you work a 9 to 5, make sure there are clear expectations on both ends with you and your manager on when your start and end times are (and if you’re able to do flex time if that works better with your schedule). If you’re an entrepreneur, freelancer or have a “non-traditional” gig, you’ll have more freedom here on when you work, but make sure you set these expectations with clients, team members, and most importantly, yourself.
2. Take your lunch (and breaks!)
While it may seem tempting to just finish that one project in between bites of your leftover pad Thai, you’re better off in the long run if you take the time to take a break here and there (after all, every employer allots this time into your schedule). If you’re in an office environment, it may be a little more challenging to step away from your desk, especially if other coworkers have a habit of working through lunch. But I challenge you to start this good habit, and who knows, you may inspire a few of your other coworkers to do so, too.
3. Ask for help
Ah, the most dreaded boundary of all: Asking for help (cue the horror movie screams). I used to think that asking for help or guidance on a project meant that I wasn’t doing my job correctly, which thankfully I know now that those two things don’t correlate. Sometimes you really just need a second pair of eyes on something or you need to rearrange your priorities because there’s too much on your plate — which by the way don’t mean you’re not capable of doing it because you wouldn’t be there in the first place if you weren’t!
If you run into a situation where you feel overwhelmed, anxious or don’t know where to turn, reach out to your manager or a trusted coworker to help you. And don’t worry, your manager or coworkers won’t think you’re any less of a good worker and if they do, that may not be the right place for you (but that’s a whole other discussion for a later time).
4. Decide your personal info limits
I’m all for making friends at work and having good rapport with coworkers, but as a chronic oversharer, I’ve learned that not every coworker needs to know every painstaking detail of my life, and nor should I expect them to share personal details with me either. Setting limitations with myself on what I share, when I share it and what I expect from others has been key to dividing work with play. If you struggle with this, determine what areas you feel comfortable sharing and what you don’t before you walk into oversharing territory. For example, you may decide you’re okay with coworkers having your cell phone number handy, but maybe you don’t want them following you on social media, which brings me to my next tip.
5. Don’t forget your digital boundaries
In a digital age where everyone is at your fingertips, it’s important to set digital boundaries not only in your personal life, but your work life, too. This can look like limiting how many people have access to your personal phone number and social accounts or how much access you give all of them. For example, maybe you’d like to follow your coworker on social media, but maybe they’re not on your close friends story.
Digital boundaries also apply during work hours. If you want to smash through your to-do list, you may want to consider setting “do not disturb” on your phone so you can go head first into your work. Or maybe you want to block off time on your work calendar for focus time so you don’t get a last-minute meeting thrown on your calendar. Digital boundaries go both ways — both in and outside of work — to keep the line drawn.
If you’re looking for more ways to separate work and life, listen to my podcast epsiode with Linda Cheung where we discuss work and social boundaries, social media content creation and the realities of going viral. Listen here on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
