Work boundaries are the limits that you set for yourself in your work environment. They specify the type of work you do, the scope of work, and the time frame for working among other work-related situations. They are important as they help your avoid getting overwhelmed, a work-life balance and healthy work relations.
You can set work boundaries successfully by sticking to your job description, stop taking extra work, delegate work, maintain working hours and set SMART goals.
Why Working Moms Need Work Boundaries
Setting work boundaries is very important to a working mom for several reasons;
- It avoids getting you overwhelmed with work, which can lead to burnout
- Helps you avoid too much work which can create demanding work pressures on yourself
- They define how much of yourself you give to work so that you are able to achieve a work-life balance
- They guide you on how you relate/interact with colleagues, employers, and clients.
Read: How to Recover and Avoid Burnout
Simple Ways to Successfully Set Work Boundaries
1. Stick to Your Job Description and Scope
Upon your engagement with your employer, you were assigned a role and attached responsibilities. To set effective work boundaries, this is where you start and only stick to what has been assigned under your role.
Say no to everything else. Doing so may be difficult to say to your employer, but remember allowing it will lead to more workload for you in the future. It is quite in professional order to say no.
Ensure that you talk to your boss or you’re superior if you feel you are being constantly sought to work on tasks outside your scope. The discussion should yield the way forward regarding revising your role and attached benefits among others.
Read: How Much Office Work is too Much Work
2. Do Not Take Extra Work or Help Out
Sometimes to please others, you find yourself taking in extra work. More so from other colleagues requesting you to help them out in some work. If you can’t handle it, learn to say no.
Don’t take in anything extra if it will eventually hurt you. The approach may put you at odds with some of your colleagues but you cannot compromise on yourself. It is one of the ways you can use to avoid getting yourself burnout.
It includes guarding your off days as well. You should not be required to work on off days nor should you allow it. You should not make an exception of taking in work while you should be resting as this habit will be made your norm at the office.
Further, you need adequate time notice for work-related travel. Doing so is very important so that you have time to plan for your kids and families. Do not allow abrupt notices on travel as that will greatly inconveniences you and become a norm for your office. Learning is a very way of setting work boundaries.
Read: How Much Office Work is too Much Work
3.Delegate Extra Work When Necessary
Learn to delegate work. You do not need to do everything by yourself. If you are a supervisor delegate the extra work to your juniors or other team members.Sometimes you need someone else handling other duties.
If you find you are getting overwhelmed by work, chances are that you are not doing a good job of delegating your work. Delegate out what you cannot efficiently and effectively handle. It is an important aspect of work boundaries.
Read: How Much Office Work is too Much Work
4. Maintain Work and Home Hours
One main thing you need to do in setting work boundaries as a working mom is stick to your work hours. Avoid handling work while at home. Unless it is a real emergency everything else can wait till the next day.
Also avoid taking extra hours at the office to do office work. Plan your work and finish off by the end of your office hours. This is very important because your family especially your kids needs you after your office hours. It is the only time you get to spend with your family so make it family time only.
Read: How to Get Me Time at the Office
5. Set SMART Work Goals and Timeline
Set your personal goals and objectives for a set period. Let this guide you on how much you need to do and by when. A well-thought-out plan will give you ample time to organize the time and human resources you have at your disposal without inconveniences.
While setting goals, ensure that they are SMART. I.e. specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. For a work project, ensure you give your employer a realistic time when you can get started/finish so that you get unnecessary work pressure off yourself. By doing so you will not be overwhelmed by work.
Read: How to Set a Career Plan
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