Learning to Set Boundaries between Your Personal and Professional Life

It has become really easy for some of us to allow work and home life to blur into each other, especially in workplaces that allow for remote work. Often, many of us struggle to set clear boundaries between work hours and home life due to increasing pressure to always be available. 

Examples of this can include being expected to answer emails, texts and phone calls after work hours or feeling compelled to check every notification on our phones “just to see” if it is something that needs our attention. However, these boundaries can affect more than just your spare time and extend into the ability to look after your own physical and emotional well being. A lack of boundaries can also affect our relationships. 

What are boundaries?

Boundaries are not only about knowing when to say “no”, but they are also about setting an expectation about the treatment you receive from others.  Without the ability to set clear boundaries between your workplace and home life, you may start to feel burnt out and emotionally exhausted, leaving you with no resources left to give to your partner or family. Setting clear boundaries can also build your self-esteem and prevent you from also being taken for granted both in your workplace and your relationships (Gupta, 2024).

What prevents us from setting boundaries?

There are many reasons why it is difficult to set boundaries with the people we care about and our workplace. Some of the reasons include wanting to fit into a workplace culture, lack of self-confidence, and not knowing our own value (Gupta, 2024). For many, standing up for ourselves through our boundaries can be anxiety inducing due to fear of creating conflict or being judged as selfish (Gupta, 2024).

How can counselling help?

Counselling can help you to learn coping strategies to manage stress and avoid burnout while balancing your personal and professional life. You can discover tools to effectively communicate your boundaries respectfully. Speaking up for your needs allows you to learn to say “no” and prioritize yourself without experiencing the conflict that many fear. And most importantly, boundaries allow you to build stronger trust in yourself as it is fundamental to self-advocacy and self-love. 

References

Gupta, S. (2024, August 29). Are You Standing Up For Yourself? It’s Time to Self-Advocate and Take Your Power Back. Verywellmind. https://www.verywellmind.com/self-advocacy-benefits-and-strategies-8697994