As we continue our journey through COVID19, we are all seeking a return to normalcy. But for many, working remotely opened a whole new way to work, providing flexibility for your family, time saved commuting, and maybe even a new workout routine.
Anticipating the return to school and childcare will be a slow rollout, some employers are allowing staff to continue working from home through the end of the year or permanently. Put your boundaries in place now to ensure success in the coming months as we "reimagine" our new normal.
Developing Personal Boundaries
While many of us have been forced into a work-from-home arrangement, you can use this time to set your personal boundaries for better work-life integration. Even before the virus, many employees reported feeling “always on” and attached to their cell phones. Now is the time to change that.
Learn Your Values
Why do you want to set these boundaries? Are you looking to be more engaged with your family? Do you need a hobby to make new friends? Or maybe you simply want to get through your stack of unread books?
The first step towards establishing boundaries is learning your values and understanding the role work plays in your daily life. Even if you love everything about your job, you need to take a break to explore creative outlets so you can do that job better.
Take Time for Self-Reflection
As you develop boundaries, take some time to self-reflect and possibly journal the answers to these questions:
How do I want to be perceived in the workplace and at home?
When have I been most frustrated with my work or coworkers?
When have I achieved an “ideal” day or schedule? What elements made it ideal?
How do I see my work and personal life working together?
What time of day do I work best?
Every person is different: you may realize you want to work late one night per week to make things easier for the rest of the workweek. You could also realize the same frustrating situations occur again and again because you allow it.
Learn to Say “No”
Be prepared -- when you start implementing your boundaries, you’ll get some pushback. By understanding the why behind your boundaries, you’ll feel more comfortable saying “no” when those boundaries are broken.
While deadlines or special circumstances always arise, you’ll notice when a manager or coworker has no regard for your limits. Before you get into those situations, plan your responses to typical requests (“can you pull this report for me really quickly?” at 8pm) in order to reiterate your availability or gauge the level of “emergency.”
Acting on Boundaries
Work-life boundaries begin at home. During the virus, you may have missed the structure and unwinding time you had built into your commute to/from the office. Build those into your work-from-home day so you experience productivity and avoid burnout all year.
Clearly Communicate Expectations
The only way to establish boundaries is to clearly communicate them to those you live and work with.
If you haven’t already, set up specific times when you will be working and your partner will be caregiving for children or elderly parents. Communicate these with your work team, so they know when they can expect to hear from you. Only schedule meetings during these available times, so your team clearly understands your availability.
Keep (or Build) Your Routine
If your morning routine disappeared back in March, it’s time to put it back into your day. Wake up at the same time every day, work out, shower, eat breakfast with your family -- just like any other day. This consistency gets you ready to maintain boundaries during the rest of the day.
Designated Work Space
Set a boundary right in your home by designating a workplace. Now that your kids are out of school, you can reclaim your office and set it up with everything you need to be productive. The designated space tells your mind to work and then relax when you leave it.
Turn Off Notifications
When you’re away from your desk, turn off notifications. This is a good rule for maintaining boundaries whether you work on-site or at home. Allow yourself to be fully engaged in your current task, not distracted by notification sounds and icons. Then when you sit back at your desk, your mind will be ready to handle your inbox or unread chats.
Leaders: Develop Choice, Trust, and Compassion
Micromanagement has no place in the modern world of work. As a manager, you will build the most productive and effective workforce by encouraging choice, trust, and compassion. Especially during this unusual time, your team needs the flexibility to get their work done well without the pressure of proving they’re working. Shift your mindset from the hours they work to the actual work completed.
Leaders: Set the Example of Intentionality
Let these boundaries begin at the management level. Tell your team when you’ll be working and demonstrate how you’ll be completely offline outside those times. Resist sending emails late at night (or schedule them to go out the next morning if you can’t), so your team doesn’t feel toxic guilt for not working at all hours of the day.
Strong Boundaries Bring Flexibility
At first, flexibility may be interpreted as working from anywhere all the time. But good boundaries actually give you more flexibility in the long run. Your team can count on you to deliver your work when you say and have open lines of communication around project deadlines without fear and pressure.
Ultimately, companies will see their workforce working more efficiently, because effective boundaries help each person achieve their work and life goals.
We’re ready to help you build this culture and the necessary policies through free consultations, Facebook lives, and zoom webinars for every step of the journey. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Or reach us anytime at hello@swayworkplace.com