How to Set Boundaries at Work

New York City used to be known as “the city that never sleeps,” but in today’s digital age it seems that that can ring true no matter where you live. While the internet is great (yay memes!), it has blurred the lines between work and personal life. It may seem impossible to disconnect from work, set healthy boundaries to maintain a healthy work-life balance, and avoid burnout. 

With more than 40% of American workers working remotely, setting boundaries at work is critical to ensure that earning your livelihood won’t negatively impact your life. Easier said than done, right? Here are our six tips to set boundaries at work.

Six Ways to Set Boundaries at Work

1. Identify Your Priorities.
   Yes, having an income is important and you need to provide for basic necessities (hello, food, water, housing), but what’s really important to you in life? List out your priorities. This could include: being present for your kids, travel, or a new hobby. Think about the boundaries you need to set up in order to protect these things and accomplish them. These boundaries will likely stem from your values and your life priorities. 

2. Communicate Your Boundaries, Clearly & Concisely .
   Once you have established your boundaries and priorities, it’s time to communicate them. This could be as simple as you will not answer emails on the weekend or you won’t respond to Slack messages after 5pm. Use this time to communicate what constitutes a true “work emergency” so that you’re not regularly fielding “crises.” Too often, we feel that we need to add in “reasons” to justify our boundaries. This can dilute your message to make it unclear. By communicating clearly and concisely, you leave no uncertainty behind your intention or meaning. Bonus Tip: Set a physical boundary for when you’re logging off. This may include having separate work/personal phones, silencing all notifications, or leaving your work computer in a separate room that you close the door on for the night. 

3. Create Clear Structures.
   A house built on a soft foundation will fall - and so will your boundaries if you don’t build them solid. This may look like only taking meetings on certain days or setting up do-not-disturb working hours. By creating clear boundary structures, it minimizes the likelihood of boundary infractions. 

4. Keep Your Relationships Professional.
   Don’t get us wrong, we’re not saying there won’t be some people who you’re closer with than others or that you can’t have a work BFF - just remember, these relationships can get tricky. If someone sees you & your work BFF chatting during do-not-disturb hours, it blurs the lines and your boundaries. Keep your work relationships by and large professional.

5. Delegate Work When Appropriate.
   It’s important to set expectations for the work that you do, the work you’re hired to do, the work you’re willing to pick up, and the work that is beyond your responsibility. You may have the opportunity to delegate the work to someone who is more capable. Ask yourself: do I have the time to complete this work without it interfering with the main priorities of my job? Is the work better suited for someone else on the team based on their capability or someone who is looking to grow? 

6. Say No.
   It’s that easy, right? Ha! We get it! Saying no at work often leaves us feeling like we’re letting someone down or we’re not a team player. If you’re asked to take on more but feel that you can’t, politely ask, “How am I supposed to do that?” Don’t ask in way that sounds accusatory, but rather use this a time to showcase what you are doing for your manager to see if it’s truly feasible for you to take on another project at this time.
   
   Bonus Tip: Check out this reel from Meredith for tips on how to say no at work!

Setting boundaries at work is important to not only manage expectations, but also to ensure that you are maintaining a positive work-life balance and avoiding burnout. If your workplace is unwilling to respect your boundaries, it may be time to think about a career change.