Work isn’t who we are, not even if we love our jobs. There’s more to us than that.
Work boundaries help safeguard our time, our energy, our purpose, and how fulfilled we feel. Some work boundaries are functional and clear, while others are more intangible and flexible. Now having clear boundaries doesn’t mean that we won’t think about work when we’re not working or that we won’t think about personal stuff during work time.
To establish a healthy work-life balance, here are some reasons why setting boundaries is important:
Maintaining your well-being
Without boundaries, you may find yourself working long hours, sacrificing your health and personal life for work, and experiencing burnout. Setting boundaries allows you to prioritise your physical and mental health, ensuring that you have the time and energy to take care of yourself.Improving productivity
Setting clear boundaries helps you focus on the tasks at hand and avoid distractions. By establishing limits on your availability, you can prioritise your workload and ensure that you are working on the most important tasks.Establishing a healthy work-life balance
By setting boundaries, you can create a clear separation between your work and personal life. This can help you manage stress, maintain healthy relationships, and engage in activities that bring you joy and fulfilment outside of work.
Here’s how we can start to establish work boundaries and stick to them:
Define your work hours and availability
Communicate to your colleagues and supervisor when you are available to work and when you are not. Set clear expectations around response times and availability outside of work hours.Prioritise your workload
Focus on the most important tasks and delegate or defer lower-priority tasks when necessary. Don't take on more work than you can handle.Take breaks
Schedule regular breaks throughout the day to recharge and avoid burnout. Make sure you step away from your work and take time to relax and recharge.Learn to say no!
Don't feel obligated to take on every task or project that comes your way. Learn to say no when your workload is already full or when a task is outside of your expertise.
Setting boundaries at work can be challenging, especially if you are used to putting work before everything else. However, by prioritising your well-being, productivity, and work-life balance, you can establish healthy boundaries that benefit both you and your employer.
Hopefully you have clear boundaries in your current role, but if it feels like time to start searching for a new role, then please contact us.
At Venture, we're here to help you find your dream accounting or finance job!
Register your updated CV with us today or phone 02380 119 820 for a confidential chat about the next step in your career.
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