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Remote Work: How to Set Healthy Boundaries in Work

February 21, 2024 by
  • Remote Work

Working from home has many advantages but also comes with its own set of challenges. When you create boundaries at work, you'll be able to focus on your goals and achieve them faster. Setting boundaries at work — for example, by saying no when someone asks you to do something you don't want to — shows respect for yourself and others. In addition, setting healthy work boundaries might help you build trust in work relationships. It would help if you considered some things when deciding whether to work from home full-time or part-time. You may have heard about "boundary setting" before, but did you know there are specific techniques for creating them? In this post, let's learn with Kapsys how to set healthy boundaries at work. To learn more about boundary setting, read this article! 

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Assess Your Personal Boundaries At Work First

To create healthy boundaries at work, you must first understand what they are. Before you talk to your boss about setting boundaries, assess your boundaries first. You might feel uncomfortable talking to your boss about something bothering you, but you shouldn't let that stop you from doing what's right for you. When you have a boundary issue at work, you should talk to someone about it. If you don't feel comfortable talking to your manager, go to HR instead.

Managers should prepare a list of guidelines regarding:

  • Typical work hours/workdays
  • Vacation days/time-off policies
  • Clear job responsibilities 
  • Who will assign projects/work/deadlines
  • Communication standards (i.e., Slack, Jira and Trello or Salesforce)

Communicate Your Healthy Boundaries Clearly

If you need to communicate your boundaries with your boss, do so as soon as possible. Don't wait until things escalate before you make your feelings known. It's easy to fall into bad habits when you work from home. 

Instead, make sure you set aside a consistent schedule every day. This will help you stay focused and avoid getting distracted by other things. Remember, setting aside time for family and friends daily is also essential. This will help you feel connected to others and give you something to look forward to when you return to the office.

Keep Your Relationships At Work Professional

If you need to set boundaries with your coworkers, do so politely and respectfully. Don't make it seem like you're being difficult just because you're trying to protect yourself. Instead, explain why you need to set these boundaries and how they will benefit everyone involved.  You may not realize it, but there's more going on behind closed doors than you see when you walk through the door each day. So, keeping your relationships at work professional is the best way to succeed at work. 66.1-How-To-Set-Boundaries-in-Remote-Workspace-1.jpg

Say No To Keep Work Boundaries

It's essential to set clear expectations when working from home. Saying no to things you don't like to do isn't easy, especially when you feel pressured to say yes. However, setting workplace boundaries is an effective way to protect yourself and your career. You'll gain more control over your life and your job. And you'll avoid burnout.  If you work from home, ensure you're not working too late at night. There's no reason why you need to stay up until midnight or later just because you're working from home. It's probably better to keep regular office hours to maintain a healthy work/life balance.

Delegate Work When Appropriate

You should only delegate tasks when you feel confident that you can complete the task successfully. If you aren't sure whether you can handle something, ask for help before you start. Remote project managers and team leaders are prime nominees for racking up overtime and overcommitting.  Instead of doing five people's work, always consider delegating some tasks to your team. Before delegating tasks, ask yourself which team members are qualified enough for the task/project based on their skills, experience, and schedule.  Sometimes it's better to let a robust and qualified remote team member with more infrequent obligations do the job right than swamp yourself and ignore your boundaries. Delegate your team and let them impress you. And you'll feel more confident in their capabilities and less drawn to take on everything yourself.

Conclusion of Working From Home Boundaries

It's time to take control of your career by creating boundaries at work. To create boundaries at work, you must first understand where they come from. Once you know where they come from, you can start setting them up. Once you do, you can set up boundaries that help you feel safe and secure while still achieving your goals. Kapsys recommends that you should set your boundaries at work to achieve your career goals without obstacles. Setting boundaries at work doesn't mean you have to be rude or unkind. Moreover, it is crucial to remember that being friendly doesn't necessarily mean being friends; if you don't like someone in your workspace, don't push yourself, just e professional. Read Benefits of Remote Work for Companies