Setting Boundaries When Working From Home

Healthy boundaries are a crucial part of all relationships—they help instill respect, trust, and safety—and work relationships are no exception. In fact, failing to set boundaries at work can cause stress, lead to burnout, and impact your productivity.

Unfortunately, with the influx of remote jobs that began during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s become harder than ever to set boundaries with bosses and colleagues. After all, it’s not as easy to end your workday when you always have the ability to log back on to your computer from the comfort of home. Don’t worry, though—it’s still possible to set boundaries while working from home. Here are some tips for how to do so:

• Create a work schedule for yourself and stick to it—just because you can check your emails in the evenings and on weekends doesn’t mean you have to.
• Schedule vacation days for yourself even if you don’t have anything specific planned.
• Create a home office—even if you don’t have a spare room available, you can designate a certain area of your home as your office—and commit to working only in that space.
• Don’t be afraid to let your manager and teammates know if you’re stretched too thin and can’t take on an additional assignment (but be sure to communicate that to them as early as possible to avoid missed deadlines).

Start Improving Your Work-Life Balance

Setting boundaries can be difficult—especially with your bosses and colleagues—but an experienced therapist can help. Contact me today to schedule a therapy session. I’ll be happy to discuss any issues that you’ve been experiencing while working from home, and once I’ve learned about your unique circumstances, I can offer you tailored advice on how to set necessary boundaries.