How to set limits at work

Learn how to improve your balance between professional and privacy life while excelling your work.


A good balance between professional and private life is not easy to find, especially in remote work climate. You may need to work to live, but you shouldn't live to work. And even if your boss is not as demanding as Meryl Streep In The devil wears Prada , it's easy to start feeling that you don't have time to enjoy your own life. If this is the case, you must learn to define limits at work.

Get control of your life and keep your boss away from your free time and your weekends. We know that the fixing of the limits can be intimidating, in particular with your employer, but we have spoken with several experts who are all in terms of well-being in the workplace and who have solid advice to keep your peace at work . Read the rest for their best advice.

In relation: 5 signs that you have impostor syndrome in your career and how to overcome it .

Why is the fixing of limits to work important?

Shot of a young business man frowning while using a laptop in a modern officee
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Although having a source of income is vital, aving a life outside your workplace is also important. Alexandria Agresta , A Leadership development expert And coach, says: "The fixing of limits at work is essential to maintain a healthy, productive and harmonious workplace". It also prevents professional exhaustion and allows employees to maintain their mental and physical well-being.

People often think that setting up parameters at work only benefits employees. But when managers support their employees, it is a win-win situation for everyone.

"When people produce other important elements of their life at work, there is a tilting point to which they begin to feel the work environment, their managers or themselves," said Megan Ragsdale , A chief Executive Officer . "The limits allow employees to have an area on the compromises they are ready to do between work and family life."

Employers benefit from it because when employees have the impression that their time is respected, this can lead to higher retention of employees. When employees have the impression of having the appropriate time to work and be out of time, they can in turn feel more motivated and recharged to work better at work. According to Natalie Rosado , a license mental health professional , a positive work culture can go very far. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

When you inform your work of your limits, you can also help prevent the workfall, that is to say when your responsibilities are gradually increasing beyond your work description, explains Rosado. In some workplaces, doing an excellent job is often "rewarded" with more work.

"By clearly defining the tasks in their role, an employee can avoid taking additional work which is not part of his work, preventing the feelings of being exceeded and underestimated," explains Rosado.

When the limits are set and employees feel respected, people have the opportunity to perform at their best.

In relation: 15 Best jobs for introverts .

How do you set healthy limits to the workplace?

ambitious man at work
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Defining your expectations in the workplace is easier to say than to do, but not impossible. Here are several clear ways to set limits so that your mind and body thank you.

Avoid checking the work emails during dinner time and after working hours. "[It is] a power decision that prevents your personal life from becoming an overwhelming extension of the office," said Motor -health motivator lecturer Azizi Marshall .

When communicating your limits, Marshall suggests adopting a positive approach, "Especially when you treat with a difficult boss, try to train it as a productivity booster," she suggests. "For example, 'I can bring my game to if I can recharge myself after the hours, which will benefit us both and the business itself.'"

Make a priority list for all your responsibilities. Enumerate your tasks and classify them according to their importance and their deadlines, shares Rosado. "Focusing on high priority tasks and communicating which lower priority tasks may need to be delayed or delegated."

Add time management tools to your workflow. The implementation of calendars, planners or applications to allocate specific moments for tasks and breaks can help you block times for targeted work and respirators, says Rosada.

Do not be afraid to delegate tasks. When you examine your list, see what responsibilities can be transmitted to your colleagues or your people who work under you.

"The delegation not only reduces your workload, but also gives the reinforcement of others," notes Rosado.

Be real with yourself so that you can define realistic expectations in the workplace. It is dangerous to continue saying yes to everything your boss gives you, without taking into account the workload you already have. Communication from your bandwidth to your manager and your team will help you be realistic about what can really be done.

"Learn to say no politely," said Rosada. This is probably the most difficult suggestion on the list, so as a buffer, offer an alternative solution or suggest another person for the task that has less on their plate.

Remember and your boss what are your roles and responsibilities. It is easy for the workfall to settle when things are increasing at work (month of end of neighborhood, we look at you). So make sure that your role is not only clear and well defined, but also documented. This will help you hold, your boss, responsible for doing exactly what your work needs.

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How do you manage your employer behind?

A disappointed female boss pointing to her male employee's computer screen
Fluxfactory / Istock

A non -support manager can do nightmare work. Unfortunately, some employers simply do not get it and really find it difficult to wrap their heads of the need for a balance between professional and private life. Despite clear communication of your limits, some managers can reject you and continue to overload you with assignments.

If this happens, communication and self -assertion become essential. Stay calm and professional and explain your limits again.

"It is important not to use an accusing tone," warns Rosado. "Instead of using" you "," to say ". These are your limits and how violations or hindsight affect you, after all.

If your needs are still not met, it could help make human resources move. So be sure to save and "document incidents and communications in case you need to degenerate the problem from higher management," suggests Rosado.

In relation: 5 high income skills to increase your career prospects .

What are the common myths on setting limits on the workplace?

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Unlike popular belief, setting limits to work does not mean that you suddenly have a super relaxed concert. It also does not mean being dismissed or having a controversial relationship with your boss. There are a handful of common common ideas that we are ready to approach to give you the courage and the clarity of cultivating a healthy workplace for yourself.

The fixing of limits shows a lack of dedication or commitment.

The limits and conversations on the limits of its limits are not only reserved at the workplace.

"We have set limits in all parts of our life to maintain healthy relationships, it is therefore logical to manage relationships in this area too," also says Sunaree Komolchomalee , head of human resources at Cupid pr .

The limits are selfish.

Often, when people plead for themselves, they or the people around them may have the impression that this is reckless. In fact, it is "a form of personal care and respect for his own limits," says Rosado.

Having limits means that you will no longer be flexible to your work.

Putting parameters on your role does not mean that you will not be there for your team if they need you in a capacity that is outside your post description. Having limits does not make you difficult: it simply offers directives to help you manage your time and your energy, explains Rosado.

"They can be adjusted if necessary while protecting basic needs," she said. "Flexibility within clear limits helps maintain a healthy balance."

The fixing of the limits means that you cannot manage your work and that you are weak.

"The limits fixation is a sign of strength and self -awareness", shares Rosado. "This shows that an individual understands his limits and takes proactive measures to maintain their well-being and their efficiency at work."

Borders will harm the progress of the career and only lead to a conflict .

According to your boss and your culture in the workplace, the defense of yourself could lead to a decline or to reprisals, but to set limits and having a successful career does not exclude each other.

"According to my experience, people who have a negative reaction when they come up against the limits of others are generally people who bind their own self -esteem to the transactional value they offer to others," notes Ragsdale. "For them, the borders resemble rejection and tend to evoke strong self -defense reactions. Taking the time to communicate your limits respectfully can eliminate any misunderstanding that could lead to conflicts."

As an employee with limits, you can be seen as someone who is not a team player, but it is important to remember that career growth comes from "a sustained performance and reliability" , which also comes from the fixing of healthy borders, says Rosado.

Remember that no work is worth your mental health, and if professional exhaustion is a requirement for a promotion, this work may not suit you.

In relation: How to suck every common job interview question .

How can you identify your own limits?

woman looking stressed in front of her laptop at work
Dropout

The first step to set limits is to determine what yours are. Rosado advises you to take the time to lead a stress / mental health audit on your life. Think of your past experiences and what has caused strong feelings of discomfort, anxiety or tension. This will help you assess where change and limits may be necessary.

It may also be useful to obtain advice or prospects for trust, family or mentors, as they can help you see your situation more clearly. Jenna Rogers , founder of Career civility , also suggests asking you the following questions to launch your border assessment:

  • What hours of work are durable for you?
  • When can you respond to emails?
  • What hours are the best to organize meetings in relation to doing busy work?
  • What days would you like to ask for a force?
  • To what extent are you available for your colleagues and customers?
  • Are you able to complete your workload for yourself?
  • What tasks / projects do you need help?
  • Does your work respect and your needs?
  • What personal events do you need / want to attend?
  • What are your financial objectives and commitments?

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What challenges are employees confronted when they try to establish limits?

Man stressed and agitated while working at his desk
Dropout

Setting limits to work can be stimulating, but also terrifying. A professional tip to keep in mind is to set your limits for work at the beginning.

"Just out of the door, you can train people what they can expect from you during working hours, at work, at rhythm and mobility," suggests Ragsdale. In this way, there will be less confusion and objection around your limits.

Here are some problems with which employees can be faced when they make their expectations known.

Anxiety to lose your job or harm their careers

"Employees often fear that setting limits could be considered a lack of commitment, potentially put their jobs in danger or hinder career advancement," said Rosado. "[For example], an employee could hesitate to refuse additional tasks or work after working hours, fearing that this would lead to negative performance exams or missed promotions."

Heavy responsibilities of a demanding job

Depending on your career path and your position, your work can be very demanding, which can make time management very difficult. Rosado says: "An employee may have trouble taking breaks or leaving work in time if he is constantly faced with tight deadlines and a heavy workload."

Certain roles have in -depth professional requirements, therefore when accepting these positions, it is important to take this into consideration.

Culture #bossbabe

Before #Softlife was one thing, employees consisted of #girlbossing, #Griding and to glorify the personality of work work. Unfortunately, there are still companies that promote the culture of professional exhaustion.

"In a company where long hours are the standard and be constantly available, an employee who tries to set limits may feel forced to comply to avoid being considered less dedicated," warns Rosado.

In relation: 11 jobs that do not require a diploma .

Wrap

Having a job is great, but you don't have to exchange your mental health for a pay check. Being constantly accessible to your team does not make you a good employee, that does not risk becoming very unhappy. Get control by fixing limits, so that you can build a positive workplace while enjoying your personal life.

Do not forget: "You have to teach people how to treat yourself," said Ragsdale. "If you don't have borders, don't expect people to treat you like you. They will enjoy your time and resources until you teach them not to do it."


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