Congratulations! You are still in the world of work, but have you noticed the strange sensation creeping in of never being able to get away? Feeling a sense of ‘uber-connectedness’..? You are not alone.
Studies have said that up to 70% of the UK workforce feel like they simply cannot switch off from work.
If you know you need some coping strategies to fend off your tech-savvy colleagues (and overly enthusiastic AI) whilst they all compete to see who can “circle back” to you the fastest, then setting some boundaries at work has never been more critical.
Here’s how to stay sane while keeping both your digital and human co-workers in check and maintaining that all important work life balance.
- Implement The “No Thanks, AI” Rule
Nearly every workplace now has that AI assistant that schedules meetings for 8:00 a.m. on a Monday because it is “optimised for productivity.” Remember: AI works for you, not the other way around. Use clever prompts to reprogram the way it works for you and get it to prioritise “work-life balance” (a.k.a. scheduling all your meetings during your most caffeinated hours).
- Block Interruptions
Yes, your boss can now appear as an avatar directly into your teams call to check on your latest report, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept every call to interact with it! Activate “Do Not Disturb” mode when you need time alone to do your day job without interruptions. Having focus time like this allows you a boundary and safe thinking time.
- Master the Art of Instant Message Replies.
When you receive a “Can you just quickly look at this…” message at 10:00 p.m., remember that “Sure, I’ll look into it tomorrow” is perfectly acceptable shorthand for “This is not happening tonight, Steve.”
Try disabling notifications at a certain time period or moving the app to a page you don’t look at as much. Your brain needs time without work to rest & recharge.
- Don’t be Blinded By Free Perks
In-office perks have evolved to include anything from wellness pods, fruit and yoghurts to AI-coached yoga, but don’t let the allure of a “mental health Thursdays” trick you into staying late or interacting in the evening if it’s not your thing. Practice some polite declines with lines like, “I’d love to, but I’ve got other plans”, or “I’m all done with work mode for today, I need some home time”
- Get Help to get the Words Out
If Speaking Up and saying the words needed to set boundaries sounds a little too scary for you, don’t panic! We get it, and we’ve got you. Check out our online courses to get braver with your boundaries.
- Use Tech to Help Set Boundaries
Finally, if someone tries to overstep your boundaries, you can use technology to help you in subtle ways. Try an out of office message that clearly states your working hours, or gently reminds people of your working days so that the subliminal message is there: This. Is. When. I. Work.
Setting boundaries at work is about balancing technology with your humanity.
Remember: you’re not just an employee; you’re a person and we all have different limits, expectations and wants and needs.
Sara & Rhi