How to set healthy boundaries at work

Boundaries are an essential part of having a balance in life, especially when it comes to mental health. Setting boundaries is important in relationships, with people you interact with in everyday life, and with the responsibilities you have. Boundaries also extend to work life, from the amount of time you spend on something to the way you allow your colleagues to talk to you.

It’s important to have boundaries in a work environment as it helps establishes a better work-life balance for yourself. Even if you love your job, it’s always a good idea to have barriers around it so that you don’t end up feeling burnout or having your mental health suffer because you can’t separate your job and your personal time. Things like mandatory overtime, while financially tempting and often framed as necessary in times where there are labor shortages, can be a burden in the long run because it limits your ability to have time for yourself.

One simple way to get started with setting work boundaries is to take stock of the things that are causing you anxiety and stress, and document them for your own reference. Make a list of every aspect of your job that you feel requires some boundaries around it, and analyze it. From there, you can start to work towards establishing boundaries and figuring out ways to work effectively without feeling overwhelmed and anxious on a regular basis.

Setting limits on things is another crucial step in creating boundaries at work. That doesn’t just pertain to the time it takes to complete something, it also means knowing when to say no to extra projects, especially when you know you just don’t have the bandwidth at that time. It can be difficult to do this, especially if you have aspirations at your company. But it’s important to know your own limits and stick to them. If you can’t take something on in a realistic sense and within a realistic timetable, just say no.

On a more interpersonal level, it’s also vitally important to keep your work relationships professional. Being friends with a coworker is not a bad thing, but it’s also important to separate the friend from the colleague during work hours. This establishes a culture in which you are able to focus on what you need to accomplish, and ultimately not allow yourself to be taken advantage of by someone because they’re your friend.

Being taken advantage of by a work friend can take many forms, but it often it can be something as simple as feeling obligated to pick up someone’s slack or even cover for them in certain situations due to your friendship. This will ultimately impede your own ability to do your work well and have a healthy work-life balance.

Ultimately, however, the way you set boundaries at work is up to you. Remember to always try your best to prioritize your own mental health and personal happiness in your decision-making, and don’t feel bad about putting some boundaries up around yourself as an employee in order to do so. You’ll find that doing so actually increases your chances of professional success because you’ll be a happier, more balanced person all around.

— Article by Sean Kelly. In addition to being an analyst researching the latest industry trends for College Recruiter, Sean Kelly also co-founded a nonprofit local news publication in Savannah, GA called The Savannahian.