Work and personal life are two essential aspects of human existence, but they can also be sources of stress, conflict, and imbalance. How can you set boundaries between them and achieve a healthy work-life balance? In this article, you will learn some practical tips and strategies to help you create and maintain clear and respectful boundaries that suit your needs and preferences.
Boundaries are the limits and rules that you set for yourself and others regarding your time, energy, space, and interactions. They help you protect your well-being, values, and priorities, as well as communicate your expectations and respect others'. Without boundaries, you may experience burnout, resentment, guilt, confusion, or frustration in both your work and personal life.
What does flexibility mean to you? I'm yet to meet a company where each employee can articulate what flexibility actually means. If I'm a parent does it mean being able to take my kids to school? If I'm not a parent, does it mean I can walk my dog or go to the gym? Does it mean I can take an hour if I'm less busy, twice a day, or 30 mins once a day? Can I be flexible outside of lunch time? Can I be flexible if no one in my team does it? Do I have to tell anyone? Common one - am I only allowed to be flexible at 4pm on a Friday? Clear parameters and an understanding of what flexibility means is absolutely imperative in empowering people to use it effectively and freely, without feeling anxious about what's acceptable.
Setting your healthy boundaries and respecting other people's boundaries isn't a selfish act, it's an act of kindness. It protects both you and others from unintentionally overstepping, fostering stronger, more respectful relationships.
Establishing boundaries between work and personal life is crucial for well-being. Create a designated workspace, set clear work hours, and communicate these boundaries with colleagues. Prioritize self-care, schedule breaks, and resist the urge to constantly check work emails during personal time. Finding a balance promotes a healthier and more sustainable approach to both professional and personal life. #WorkLifeBalance
Time is the real money. Once lost, you can't recover it. Climbing up the corporate hierarchy ends up blurring the boundary between your time at work, time at the gym, and time with your loved ones. Be very miser when giving away your time, ration it for the things that bring you joy and a sense of fulfilment.
When the boundary between work and personal life is too porous it is it difficult to see where work starts and personal life begins. The key question when this happens is what is this weak boundary in service of? Or what part of me is being served by my lack of boundaries? Working this out will help you see where this behaviour comes from and how you can change it.
Before you can set new or adjust existing boundaries, you need to have a clear understanding of your current situation. Ask yourself some questions, such as: How do you feel about your work and personal life? Are you satisfied with the amount and quality of time you spend on each? Do you have any conflicts or challenges that affect your balance? How do you cope with stress and distractions? What are your goals and values in both domains?
I honestly don't believe there is one answer to work and personal boundaries that work for everyone. Each person is unique, and what works for one will not work for others. We all know the so called thought leaders talking about 70/80 hrs workweek, to me that is absolute nonsense. Start by identifying what brings you the most joy, what gives you a sense of fulfilment, and what are your key priorities. Start rationing your time accordingly. Of course, you might be contracted to work 9 hours a day at work, but if that's what does not bring you joy, probably the right time to introspect about it. With that sorted out, set-up realistic boundaries that work for you as well the other stakeholders involved.
Basado en mi experiencia, el que mucho abarca poco aprieta. Siguiendo con las metáforas para comerse un elefante gigante, podemos agrandarnos la boca (más presupuesto, más tiempo) o comenzar con bocados peque?os (agilidad). Pensar en grande, so?ar en gigante es parte de lo que nos inspira a lograr metas inspiradoras. En consecuencia para mantener las energía y la satisfacción hay que establecer pasos peque?os y objetivos que nos permitan validar que estamos avanzando hacia esas metas extraordinarias. Lo que no se hizo hoy, se hará ma?ana. No saquemos tiempo de nuestra familia par dárselo al trabajo, los límites son claros. Y cada espacio contribuye a nosotros mismos. Es recomendable no superponer espacios, el tiempo pasa muy rápido.
Mi experiencia de haber coacheado cientos de directivos sería la siguiente: 1 tener consciencia que el tiempo es un recurzo finito y no se puede almacenar; 2 la inteligencia radica en saber decir no; 3 para distribuir el tiempo y la atención se requiere valorar las tareas en importantes y no importantes ?es importante para mi y el negocio?, y en urgentes y no urgente ?Es urgente de tal forma que me paraliza a mí y/o al negocio? En función de las respuestas asignan tiempo; 4 respetar lo planificado y saber atender alguna excepción urgente (según 3). Entrenando lograrás el expertice que te dan las Power Skills de gestión del tiempo e impulsar tu carrera y calidad de vida.
Once you have a clear picture of your current boundaries, you can start to define and implement the ones that work best for you. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, as different people have different needs and preferences. However, some general principles to follow are: Be realistic and honest with yourself and others about what you can and cannot do. Be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances and needs. Be consistent and respectful in enforcing and honoring your boundaries.
Key is to have clarity about the boundary. The more we become aware, less will be the chance of losing sight. With some conscious practice, a proper balancing is possible.
While flexibility is key, some lines cannot be crossed. Physical and mental safety are non-negotiable boundaries. Compromise never means tolerating the intolerable.
El tiempo es el mismo para cualquier persona sin importar religión, status social y raza. Lo que hacemos con ese tiempo es lo que nos hace diferente. Sabemos que cada día tenemos 24 cheques donde tenemos que invertir para lograr objetivos y metas. Un espacio para recuperar energía, espacios familiares y espacios laborales. Una vez definidos, las prioridades de lo importante y urgente determinar la agenda del día y la semana. Como recomendación personal, llevar un check task digital para definir lo importante y urgente del día y de la semana. Cada lunes revisara lo importante de la semana y la próxima y darle un lugar en la agenda. Cada día revisar las prioridades del día, y accionar al respecto.
Mi experiencia es: 1- Ser consciente que soy parte de un sistema complejo, donde el cambio es lo único que tengo certidumbre que va suceder. 2- Para atender el cambio confío y entreno mis Power Skills por que son los recursos que voy a utilizar cuando la sorpresa se presente. Es clave confiar en mis recursos y saber pedir ayuda. 3- Mientras tanto continúo con mi plan. Lo importante primero. 4- Planifico semanalmente mis targets e hitos. Ajusto si es necesario. Eso incluye todos los ítem personales y profesionales. 5-Aplico mejora continua, aprendo sobre lo vivido, mido resultados, comparo con mis targets, y ajusto lo necesario. 6-Cuando hay procrastinanción es por que estoy estresado y eso produce una planificación ficticia. Corrijo.
Create “Lily Pads” throughout your day to create pockets of time that you control and dictate the direction of. It’s easy to fill your calendar and keep busy, it’s not easy to stay organized and productive. So, schedule in your calendar each day Admin time, you can then close your door and handle what ever is needed at the time, whether it’s getting caught up or a much needed pause to breathe.
Setting boundaries is not enough; you also need to communicate them effectively to others, especially to your colleagues, managers, clients, family, and friends. This will help you avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, and resentment, as well as gain support and respect. Some tips for communicating your boundaries are: Be clear and specific about what you need and expect. Be assertive and confident, but not aggressive or defensive. Be polite and respectful, but not apologetic or passive. Be open and receptive to feedback and compromise.
This requires mutual respect and transparency from the employer as well as the employee. How can you expect boundaries to be maintained if they're invisible? Flexibility works best when it works for both the employer and the employee. Sometimes there are work tasks that take priority over life outside and sometimes there are matters outside that take priority over work. There's a balance and common sense is usually the best approach, within a broader framework. To communicate is to be visible. Role model 360 degrees, not just top-down and provide a safe space for this to be done free of judgement / guilt / stigma.
??????????: Setting boundaries quickly is important for several reasons, both for your own well-being and for healthy relationships. Here's why: Delaying communication of your boundaries can inadvertently make others unaware of your needs. Their unintentional overstepping might stem from a lack of clarity, not malice. Kindness lies in early, open communication to safeguard healthy interactions.
Despite your best efforts, you may encounter situations where your boundaries are violated or challenged by others. This can happen intentionally or unintentionally, due to different expectations, perspectives, or needs. How you deal with these situations will affect your work-life balance and your relationships. Some tips for dealing with boundary violations are: Identify and acknowledge the violation and how it makes you feel. Express your feelings and needs calmly and respectfully. Negotiate a solution that works for both parties. Reinforce your boundaries and follow up on the agreement.
Setting boundaries is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process that requires regular review and adjustment. As your work and personal life change, so do your needs and preferences. You may need to revisit and revise your boundaries to ensure that they still serve you well and reflect your current situation. Some tips for reviewing and adjusting your boundaries are: Monitor and evaluate your work-life balance and satisfaction. Seek feedback and input from others who are affected by your boundaries. Recognize and celebrate your achievements and progress. Be flexible and willing to make changes when needed.
Un ejemplo personal para compartir. Los tiempos de la semana dentro de la franja de horarios que asigno para lo profesional lo divido en 3 categorías: 1) 70% del tiempo, en lo REACTIVO, mis compromisos con clientes, entregas e hitos acordados, temas agendados, etc. 2) 20% del tiempo, en lo PROACTIVO, anticiparme y planificar la agenda y acciones para lograr las metas. Por lo general son revisiones de 15 minutos una o dos veces al día, con una carga mayor al inicio del lunes y al cierre del viernes. 3) 10% del tiempo, en lo CREATIVO, es decir, un espacio para investigar, leer libros, ver videos de aprendizaje o entrevistar a líderes del mercado para aprender de otras miradas. ?Cómo inviertes tu tiempo en la semana para ser efectivo?
A very powerful process step is to end your working time when you work from home by taking a shower and changing your clothes. Psychologically this helps getting yourself out of your role as en employee onto being a private person.
When I coach or mentor job seekers, I always tell them, when you start a new job this is the opportunity to set up your boundaries with new stakeholders. You might tend to work more in the first few months, and take calls over the weekends, just to prove that they did the right thing to hire you, however, stay away from this tendency. It is a trap that you are setting up yourself, for yourself.
Mi modo es este: 1 Los miércoles planifico la semana próxima. Mis semanas comienza este dia. No los lunes y los viernes porque hay sorpresas propias y de terceros. 2 Jerárquizo las tareas como compartí anteriormente en Importantes y no importantes; les asigno urgencia o no. Lo que define si suspendo todo para resolver el tema o no. 3 Respeto mi planificación pero soy flexible a la sorpresas y cambio. 4 Tener en claro mi lugar en el sistema del que formó parte. 5 Compartir con los demás mis límites y no solicitar a los otros lo que no quiero que me hagán a mí. Eso se puede evitar con planificación. 6 Auto respeto en el sentido de reconocer que cosas son un fin o un medio para lograr ese fin. 7 Saber decir No. Power Skills son esenciales.