.jpg)
Did you know that in 2021, almost 50 million workers resigned? The pandemic started a work-from-home movement, where many people found other opportunities. Still, businesses require employees to return to work, creating interesting dynamics.
It can be difficult to establish healthy boundaries with your coworkers. At least, it's a topic that often gets many workplace insiders talking. But if you find yourself struggling to keep your distance from others, you may start to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed.
Read on to learn more about the career challenges of returning to work and how to set reasonable boundaries.
So How Can You Establish Healthy Boundaries at Work?
This guide will cover what a healthy professional boundary looks like and how you can develop healthy relationships at work without sacrificing your mental health. You must first understand your worth and make that a priority.
Some of the significant steps you can take include:
Understanding What Your Boundaries Are
While it might sound obvious, you should look internally to understand your boundaries. If you haven't put much thought into these, you should consider your goals for work and the other priorities you have in your life. Some non-work preferences may include family, friends, pets, and physical activities.
Establish Work-Life Balance
Even with established boundaries, things can change. Items like chatty coworkers or late assignments don't only distract from work but can cause stress and extend the workday.
To ensure that you don't fall into this cycle, you need a clearly defined work-life balance. You may find it helpful to set a schedule for your workday with rigid boundaries, such as not answering emails or phone calls after 5 pm. Writing this schedul.e down and setting do-not-disturb notifications on devices are more deliberate actions you can take.
Communicate Effectively
Once you have your boundaries set, you need to communicate them effectively. After all, if only you know them, what good are they? All your coworkers, including subordinates and superiors, need to know your limits.
In general, communicating effectively is one of many career challenges, regardless of context. This isn't just talking but also listening. If you find yourself overwhelmed speaking to some people, then email can be more effective, but you should apply the same principles to written communication.
Just Say No or Not Today
What's the point of having boundaries if you let them be violated? Saying no does not mean you're being disruptive; you're respecting yourself. It would be best if you did this with empathy and respect, not aggressively. If you have subordinates under you, you may delegate tasks but also remain mindful of their boundaries and workload.
In addition to saying no, you must also understand when you're having a rough day and be able to communicate this in a non-combative way. The Yes Girl podcast features an episode on communicating "not today" in a polite but firm manner when you're having a rough day at the office.
Seek Outside Help
Seeking the advice of an outsider is a great way to get another viewpoint. This could come in the form of a career coach, who can provide guidance on boundaries and other career challenges. If you don't want to make such an investment, talking to a friend can also help.
Are You Ready To Get Started?
Having boundaries is not about being difficult, it's about navigating career challenges and maintaining your mental health. To prevent being overwhelmed, you must know yourself, communicate effectively, and know when to say no.
If you're ready to get started, contact us for a better work-life balance. For more inspiration on creating healthy boundaries, check out the video below to see it in action.
Check out these items for a deeper dive into creating healthy boundaries and productivity. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Kommentare