Where to look for needed boundaries

Ready to set work boundaries but not sure where to start? I’ve got a great technique for you to use to identify when a boundary would be valuable to you. 

Find where you want to set boundaries based on your where you want your own behaviors or feelings to change. 


This was a big mindset shift for me when I was recovering from my own burnout. I thought that I should only be setting boundaries to stop other people from taking actions or behaving in specific ways around me. 

During a conversation with a friend, they shared that they set boundaries not because of the way others behaved in situations but because of the way they did themselves. For example they realized that when they stayed late after work they often ended up snapping at a colleague or leaving in tears. The boundary wasn’t needed just because they were staying late. The boundary was needed because when they stayed late they felt frustrated about throwing their work-life balance off, so they responded in frustrated ways. 

How they felt about their own behavior was the signal that a boundary was needed. When you feel safe you don’t need to snap or cry. When you are within your boundaries, communicating calmly and politely is easy. When you are communicating the guardrails you will stay within, it’s easier for others to stay within them as well.
To find where you want to set boundaries within your work day, start by being aware of how you feel throughout the day. Finding moments of unease around how you behave will be your flag for where to consider setting a boundary for yourself in the future.