How to set boundaries for a better work-life balance

Blurring of work-life boundaries

As you probably guessed, healthy work-life balance nurtures both career success and personal life fulfillment. Yet as more people work from home or split their time between corporate and home offices, the average worker struggles to separate the two worlds. “I’ll just answer one last email.” “What’s one more hour?” and “I’ll work late to impress my boss” are all too common phrases. Suddenly work time cuts into precious family and hobby time. An extraordinary worker sets clear boundaries within his or her life for maximum success.

Your Outlook can change everything

Spend less time organizing your life and more time enjoying it with Outlook

Learn More

How to set work-life boundaries

Setting work-life boundaries starts with valuing your time. Your personal time is just as valuable as your work time, so establish firm boundaries to keep those parts of your day from blurring.

First, create a dedicated workspace within your home to put yourself in a productive mindset separate from the cozy mindset during home time. Next, follow a routine to guarantee you work only during work time and relax only during home time. As you follow your routine, avoid perfectionism as much as possible. Unexpected circumstances will always arise and staying flexible helps you rise to any occasion without stress. Remember how your personal time is valuable? Honor your personal time by turning off your computer, logging out of your work email, and blocking off your calendar for mental health activities. Arguably the most difficult skill, learn to say no. If you don’t advocate for your time, no one else will.

Have a dedicated workspace

Establishing a home office sets a clear physical boundary between work and home.

If you’re working from home, leave your work device in your office and don’t touch it after work hours. Similarly, don’t enter your home office later at night or on weekends.

If you prefer to get your work done in a coworking space, library, or coffee shop, make a conscious choice not to complete any work outside of work hours. This clearly defined separation between your home and your professional work will help you maintain that boundary.

Follow a routine

Lay out a plan for yourself about how you’ll break up your day. A to-do app or list can be an excellent tool, especially if you write it the night before, so you start your day with a complete idea of everything you need to complete. Think about your defined working hours as opposed to leisure time and make a point to only complete work during those working hours. Sticking to a routine like this can be challenging as you adjust, and it’s smart to log out of social media and instant messaging apps during work hours so that you don’t feel compelled to waste time scrolling.

Remember to track your progress and check completed items off a list to visualize your time management skills and accomplishments.

Also, celebrate your success when your routine bears fruit. Treat yourself to a cup of fresh coffee or a quick walk around the block between tasks for extra motivation throughout the workday.

Avoid perfectionism

Perfectionism looks great on paper but not always in practice. In this case, perfectionism causes unrealistic expectations for both your home life and professional life. If you start spiraling because things aren’t turning out exactly as planned, give yourself some grace. Adjusting to a routine and managing the demands of both worlds will surely have some growing pains.

Try to stay flexible and realistic, especially if extenuating circumstances require you to occasionally work outside work hours. There’s nothing wrong about wanting to do your best but try to stay realistic and not spend too much time focusing on a single task because it isn’t perfect.

Make time for yourself

If you’re constantly connected to your job, you may feel like you’re always working. If you can manage it, log out of your work email account and productivity apps when not at work. If you have a separate phone or computer for work, switch them off completely when the workday is done.

Go even further and actively schedule hobbies and wellness activities to de-stress throughout the week. Meditation, yoga, and jogging are great options. Start your day with a morning run or workout if you’re able; a bit of classic cardio gets your blood pumping and takes your mind away from your job.

Use your vacation days and don’t be afraid to take a mental health day if you need some time for yourself to reset and recharge.

Learn to say no

Learning how to say no might be the hardest habit to learn. Declining an invitation or telling your boss that you don’t have the bandwidth for an extra assignment is uncomfortable. At the end of the day, you are your biggest priority and advocate. Speak up for yourself and your needs. If you work from home, talk to your boss and your coworkers about your available hours, and explain that you will not be answering your work email on weekends or after working hours. Communication is key. The more clearly you communicate your needs, the more likely they are to be respected.

Stick to your boundaries and say no if someone asks you for more than you’re able to give. With your boundaries established you’ll avoid burning out and see more success in both your personal life and professional one.