Best Practices for Communicating Work Boundaries

7 Ways To Set Boundaries At Work (Maintain Balance Without Hurting Your Growth): 1. Define, Share, & Stick To Working Hours Setting clear boundaries around the time that you’re “on” at work is a two-for-one deal: - It makes it easier for you to put work away at the end of the day - It makes it easier for your colleagues to know when you’re “on” What To Do: In upcoming 1:1s, mention that you had some changes outside of work and will be signing off at X time, but will be available any time before that. Then stick to it! 2. Don’t Reply To Messages Immediately When you reply to everything as soon as you get it, people begin to expect that from you. Building in a buffer sets new expectations that you’re not going to drop everything to make someone else’s To Do item your problem. What To Do: Set a rule for yourself where you won’t reply to non-critical emails or Slack for at least [Time]. You can start small (say, 5 minutes) then begin to work your way up. 3. Use The “Substitution Method” For New Asks Saying yes to new initiatives can mean stretching yourself too thin. If you feel like too much is on your plate, try the “Substitution Method.” What To Do: When given a new ask: - Thank them for looping you in - Outline all the projects you’re working on - Ask which should be deprioritized for this When you make people realize that saying yes to this means deprioritizing something else, they’ll think twice. 4. Block “Focus Time” On Your Calendar The average employee is interrupted 56 times per day. That only leaves 8.5 minutes between interrupts. What To Do: Put a placeholder on your calendar where you’re marked as busy. During that time, stop notifications on Slack, email, etc. Then focus on the biggest task you have. Start small with 15 minutes, then add 15 minutes every week or two until you’re up to 2-3 hours. 5. Take An Actual Lunch Break Too many of us “eat” lunch while we continue to hunch over our screens and work. Your body, eyes, and brain need breaks to perform at optimal levels. Use lunch as one of these. What To Do: Block time on your calendar to eat lunch. When the time comes, close your computer and go to a different room to eat. Bonus points if you eat without your phone and go for a quick walk after. 6. Respect Colleagues’ Boundaries Society is built on reciprocity. Make sure you’re aware of, and respecting other peoples’ boundaries. They’ll notice this and they’ll be more likely to respect yours in return. What To Do: Be proactive in learning about your colleagues’ ideal setup. Ask them when their working hours are, ask when the best times for meetings are, etc. 7. Start With One & Start Small It’s tempting to try to implement all of these all at once. Don’t do that. What To Do: Pick one that resonates with you. Think about the smallest step you can take for it (e.g. time blocking for 15 minutes, not replying to messages for 5 minutes) and start there.

Setting boundaries will get you more respect, not less. But only if you do it effectively: Saying yes all the time is NOT the key to success. In fact, it's a sure-fire way to:  ↳Get overloaded ↳Hurt your performance ↳Seem less valuable ↳Burn yourself out While many struggle to establish boundaries, And worry about what others will think if they do so, The reality is that those who set and communicate them effectively Actually increase their success AND reputation. Use this sheet to learn how: 1) Don't say: "I'll try to get to all of this" ↳Because: Puts all the pressure on you and avoids setting limits ↳Say instead: "I can't do all of this today - which part should I prioritize?" 2) Don't say: "I'm working but I'll keep an eye on messages" ↳Because: Undermines your focus and invites interruptions ↳Say instead: "I've set aside the morning for focused work - I'll check at noon" 3) Don't say: "I'm not sure I'm the best person for this" ↳Because: Opens the door for someone to push you to do it anyway ↳Say instead: "That's outside my lane, but here's someone who might be a better fit" 4) Don't say: "I don't want to disappoint you" ↳Because: Prioritizes their comfort over your needs ↳Say instead: "I know this may be disappointing, but I have to say no" 5) Don't say: "I'll try to squeeze it in last minute" ↳Because: Compromises your quality and adds stress ↳Say instead: "I work best with notice - I can't take this on at the last minute" 6) Don't say: "I'm free - take as long as you need" ↳Because: Time-drains easily expand when unstructured ↳Say instead: "I have 1 hour for this - let's address the key points" 7) Don't say: "Let me think about it" ↳Because: If the answer is no, just say so, instead of wasting everyone's time ↳Say instead: "I appreciate the ask, but I'm going to pass" 8) Don't say: "Maybe we can find a time?" ↳Because: Sounds cooperative but avoids a decision ↳Say instead: "I can't meet this week - does next Wednesday work?" 9) Don't say: "Just reach out anytime this weekend" ↳Because: Sets an always-available expectation ↳Say instead: "I unplug on weekends, but I'll respond Monday morning" 10) Don't say: "I guess I can do it" ↳Because: Implies reluctance, but still agrees, creating resentment ↳Say instead: "I'm not the right person for this, so I have to say no" 11) Don't say: "Let me know what you need" ↳Because: Opens the door to unlimited requests ↳Say instead: "I have one afternoon to devote to this, so let me know the priority" Setting boundaries isn't easy. But learning to keep control of your schedule, Instead of turning it over to others, Will let you serve them AND yourself much more effectively. Give these a try. Any others you'd add? --- ♻️ Repost to help your network set firmer boundaries. And follow me George Stern for more.

You're apologizing for things you shouldn't. 12 moments for boundaries (not guilt) 👇🏼 I used to say "sorry" for needing focused time "Sorry" for enforcing a deadline Even "sorry" for being right Now I say something else. And honor my boundaries without apologizing for them ✨ Here's how to set boundaries without guilt: 1. When you need focused work time ↳ Replace "Sorry I can't meet" with "I'm blocking focused time until 2pm for priority work" 2. When you're taking approved time off ↳ Replace "Sorry I'll be out" with "I'll be unavailable during my scheduled leave from [dates]" 3. When you're asking for critical information ↳ Replace "Sorry to bother you" with "To move this project forward, I need [specific info] by [date]" 4. When you decline additional work ↳ Replace "Sorry I can't help" with "My current priorities require my full attention right now" 5. When you're leaving on time ↳ Replace "Sorry I have to go" with "I'm heading out for the day - need anything before I leave?" 6. When you need to redirect a conversation ↳ Replace "Sorry to interrupt" with "Before we move on, I'd like to address [topic]" 7. When someone disrespects your time ↳ Replace "Sorry, but I have another meeting" with "We have 5 min left, let's prioritize" 8. When enforcing agreed-upon deadlines ↳ Replace "Sorry to ask" with "As agreed, I'll need your input by [deadline] to stay on schedule" 9. When your expertise contradicts others ↳ Replace "Sorry, but I disagree" with "Based on my experience, I see this differently because..." 10. When discussing your achievements ↳ Replace "Sorry to share this" with "I'm excited to share that our team accomplished..." 11. When addressing inappropriate behavior ↳ Replace "Sorry if this is awkward" with "That approach doesn't work for me. Here's what does..." 12. When prioritizing your wellbeing ↳ Replace "Sorry I need to step away" with "I'm taking a break to ensure I bring my best thinking" Strong professionals don't apologize for their boundaries. They communicate them with confidence ✨ Which situation will you stop apologizing for this week? Share below! -- ♻️ Repost to help your network transform apologies into influence 🔔 Follow Dr. Carolyn Frost for more strategies to succeed with confidence and clarity

7 Phrases to Set Boundaries at Work: (Protect your time, energy, and sanity) If you don’t set boundaries, work will take all the space it can. Saying “yes” to everything leads to burnout, resentment, and exhaustion. Here are 7 powerful phrases to set boundaries at work (without guilt) + how to use them effectively: 1. "I’m happy to help, but I’ll need more time to do it well." → A polite way to push back on unrealistic deadlines. → Protects your quality of work and mental health. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁: Instead of accepting deadlines immediately, ask what the true priority is and negotiate a realistic timeline. 2. "I’m at full capacity right now. Can we revisit this next week?" → Prevents you from being overloaded. → Shows you’re open to helping—just not immediately. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁: Keep a workload tracker so you can confidently say when you’ll be available next. 3. "I’d love to, but I need to prioritize my current workload." → Communicates that you have other priorities. → Reinforces that your time is valuable. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁: Politely remind the requester of your existing commitments and, if necessary, loop in leadership to align priorities. 4. "I won’t be available outside of work hours, but I’ll handle this first thing tomorrow." → Protects your personal time. → Sets a clear expectation without sounding uncooperative. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁: Set clear expectations about your work hours in advance—use email signatures or status updates as reminders. 5. "I’d be happy to do that, but I’ll need to delegate something else." → Puts the responsibility back on them to manage priorities. → Encourages a realistic distribution of work. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁: Ask your manager which task should take priority and make them aware of trade-offs before accepting more work. 6. "I appreciate the opportunity, but I’ll have to pass this time." → Gives a respectful no without over-explaining. → Prevents you from stretching yourself too thin. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁: Keep it short and confident—avoid apologizing or over-justifying your decision. 7. "I need more clarity before I commit to this." → Ensures you fully understand what’s being asked. → Helps avoid last-minute surprises or extra work. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁: Before saying “yes,” ask for specifics on expectations, deadlines, and resources available. Your time is your most valuable resource—protect it wisely. What’s your go-to phrase for setting boundaries? Let me know in the comments below 👇 --- ♻️ Find this helpful? Repost for your network. ➕ Follow Dr Alexander Young for daily insights on productivity, leadership, and AI.

Saying no isn’t selfish. It’s necessary. Most people struggle to say "no" without guilt, and it’s holding them back. It leaves you feeling: ↳ Guilty. ↳ Like you're disappointing others. ↳ Worried about damaging relationships. But constantly saying yes leads to burnout, resentment, and mediocre results. Want to set boundaries with confidence? Start here: 1. When your schedule is packed: "I’d love to help, but I’m at capacity right now. Let’s check back later." 2 When asked to take on too much: "I can handle part of this, but I’ll need help with the rest. Does that work?" 3. When it’s outside your availability: "I have commitments after [time]. Let’s schedule this for tomorrow instead." 4. When the deadline is unrealistic: "To meet this deadline, I’ll need to adjust the scope or get extra support. What’s more important?" 5. When pressured for an immediate answer: "I need a little time to think this through. I’ll get back to you by [specific time]." 6. When boundaries are repeatedly ignored: "I’ve been clear about my limits, and I need them to be respected moving forward." 7. When asked for last-minute help: "I can’t take this on right now, but let’s plan ahead for next time." 8. When you feel guilty for saying no: "I want to give my best effort, and overcommitting wouldn’t allow that. Thank you for understanding." 9. When protecting your time: "I’m available until [specific time]. After that, I’ll follow up tomorrow." 10. When someone imposes their urgency: "I understand this is important, but I need to focus on my current priorities first. Boundaries aren’t selfish. They’re necessary. Saying no clears the way for your best yes. What’s your go-to phrase for setting boundaries? - - - - - ♻️ Repost if this resonated with you! 🔖 Follow me (Suren Samarchyan) for more