Why self-care is essential to work-life balance
Setting boundaries at work is often hard to do, especially if it’s frowned upon at certain organizations. That makes it hard to address the impact of not having them - or worse yet, chronically breaking unspoken, unclear ones. Yet, they are a must for long-term self-preservation - and for better productivity.
Here, we share some of our top tips on how to approach the prickly subject.
Where are we now?
Setting boundaries shapes one’s career and relationships at work - why they’re critical.
Healthy boundaries - including physical, emotional and mental limits - are key to preventing burnout and helping us maintain a healthy relationship with our work.
But such boundaries come with the risk of friction with our bosses and colleagues, possibly missing out on promotions or even losing our job.
What can you do?
Building effective boundaries takes time and patience. It may be hard in the beginning, but it’ll help you get more done in the long run.
Set realistic boundaries by identifying what needs to change, then communicating that to your personal and professional stakeholders.
There will inevitably be pushback so be clear why those boundaries are necessary, and how they will ultimately benefit the team, the organization and you.
What's next?
Setting work boundaries is an ongoing effort - keep working at it!
If people push these boundaries (and they will!), have a rebuttal plan in your back pocket ahead of time so that you aren’t caught off guard.
Remember, when work-related pressures increase, self-care is often the first to go. But if we forgo our physical and mental health, our stress and anxiety will mount and our overall well-being will dwindle. Looking at the big picture, setting self-respecting boundaries is key to balancing work and personal life over the long run.