Feeling needed or important at work can make you feel good. However, staying late, taking on extra assignments, or working during your vacation can increase your stress levels or lead to burnout. Take a moment and ask yourself how you feel emotionally and physically. If you feel like you have lost control of your life or goals, you should think about setting boundaries at work.
Setting Boundaries
Finding the strength to change how you work is courageous. For example, an integral part of your work-life balance is knowing when you need to say “no.” At first, the thought of refusing to do a task can seem unwise, but when you do decline to take on extra work, you can improve the quality of the work you’ve already completed. Focusing on the tasks at hand allows you to target your time and energy. As a result, your finished product can improve because you’re not as exhausted or stressed. Additionally, when you’re not under pressure to meet tight deadlines, you can give yourself time to regroup or even think of solutions or new ideas.
With set boundaries, you decide how to spend your time outside of work. Free time is vital to your mental health. In addition, spending time with friends and family can help you unwind from the demands of your workday.
Changing Your Mindset
Setting boundaries means changing your thoughts about work and yourself. Here are some techniques to help change how you think about work:
- Understand you won’t please everyone: The urge to please people isn’t isolated to work. Whether at work or with loved ones, you can feel the need to be accepted or liked. Nevertheless, you must accept that not everyone will be happy with your boundaries.
- Don’t apologize for saying “no:” Once you have decided that saying “no” is the best for your well-being, be confident in knowing that you’ve done the right thing.
- Let people know your needs clearly and concisely: People can’t respect your boundaries if they don’t understand them.
- Remind yourself you can choose: Whether you accept a project or not depends on your mental capacity. Before you answer “yes” or “no,” consider the context of the request. If you think the ask is reasonable, you can say “yes.” Whatever you decide, guard your time and energy.
When at work, it is easy to forget your mental well-being. Too often, employers expect you to take on extra work be available during their off-hours or vacation. Yet, when you set up boundaries, you protect your mental health. The Guest House understands that work pressures can take a toll on your mental health. Our 52-acre estate near Ocala, Florida, provides you the comfort and privacy you require to reset. To learn more about how The Guest House can help you, call us today at (855) 483-7800.