Level Up: How to set time boundaries
As you level up in your career, it is important to understand what takes up your time so you can make effective use of the time you have. With time, your colleagues will learn what you deem acceptable and that will only happen by you guiding them.
Working late and being available after hours can be a positive in your early career in terms of displaying your flexibility and commitment. However as your career advances and both your professional and personal responsibilities increase, you may want to avoid burnout and strike a good work balance. therefore want to be able to strike a good work/life balance and one effective way of doing this is through setting time boundaries on what and how your time is utilised during your work hours.
Do not respond to work emails after hours
Responding to work emails after hours signals that you are available after work and both willing and able to do more. If this is not the case, you may want to cease responding to emails after hours so not to send the wrong message.
2. Do not work on your holidays or lunch breaks
Lunch and coffee/tea breaks can act as great mental breaks after a hectic workshop or meeting. Use these breaks as they are intended, to help you break away and switch off from the demands of work.
As a manager, you may want to encourage your team to take time off after intense projects or after a long period of time.
3. Do not blindly accept meeting requests
By receiving clear agendas in your meeting requests, you can ascertain if you are meant to be in the meeting. Is this meeting for your info, are you a key decision maker or could this meeting have been an email?
By establishing boundaries on your time, you can also help inform how your team engage with your time and set a good example of efficient and effective time usage. Ultimately, a win for you, your team and your company.
Stay empowered.