Workplace is a broadly defined space where people are employed to perform certain number of tasks be it public or be private workspaces.
Workplace environment is an environment where the company’s employees work and which affects and effects their emotional and cognitive states.
A fully functioning human being is defined on the basis of the one of the aspects where he/she can maintain work-life balance and raise the satisfaction levels along with the productivity. Boundaries in every aspect of life, social, personal, occupational etc is mandatory to maintain. Too much influence of the environment in the life of the person causes him to lack balance and be burned out just reducing the productivity of the individual. Boundaries according to American Psychological Association (APA) are a psychological demarcation that protects the integrity and functionality of the individual. Boundaries are as diverse as the person’s personality.
Without boundaries, the chronic stress increases which has both toll on the physical and the mental wellbeing of the individual.
Before imposing boundaries, the individual should be aware about the kind of boundary to be utilized:
- Physical Boundaries: The boundary involves using the body, bodily health or physical space. If anyone steps on these boundaries, they are stepping above your boundaries making you more uncomfortable and unstable and with the will of remaining the homeostasis of the boundaries.
Physical boundaries include;
Giving handshakes rather than hugs, under online platforms switching off webcam and mic when feeling the need for. Performing basic needs such as having food, using the restroom etc. Not working after the end of working hours and requiring your own space.
- Mental Boundaries: The boundary involves protecting and securing your mental energy and apply to the things that matter. Basically, facing frustration and interruption or attending unnecessary conferences and meetings just rob you out of your physical and mental will to work.
Mental boundaries include:
Setting and sticking to working hours and daily schedules to increase the mental stability. The need to clarify and prioritize things is one of the important aspects as it reduces inattention and productivity of the individual. Avoiding the meetings and conferences where your presence isn’t valued and working off the grid with social media and other platforms to increase the productivity.
- Emotional Boundaries: The boundary involves reducing the affectivity of one’s emotions. It includes not allowing one’s emotions and mood to be affected by others. The person should be self-aware for maintaining the particular boundary because it wears down the individual. Uplifting yourself from negative emotions is one of the important aspects.
Emotional boundaries include:
Reducing your outburst of emotions when other person bursts in anger. The person should be courageous enough to tell the wrong person he/ she is wrong. Communicating your emotions and affective states to the supervisor. Not letting other person vent-out affect you in any way and the individual shouldn’t be carried away in the flow of these emotions.
The following are the ways which can be used to develop better working boundaries:
Setting Priorities:
Working at a particular position can be very exhausting and sometimes non-productive. The individual believes that he/she is just staying in one place and isn’t able to move on in life. When such a situation arises, the individual should be able to set certain amount of priorities and the course outcomes that he/she needs from the life. Setting priorities will help the individual be more aware and watchful.
Assigning Tasks:
Breaking down the tasks into various parts can help to increase the time efficiency of performing the work. Taking help from the college or asking other people of the team to divide work can help the person be more efficient in establishing boundaries in work and be able to maintain a good leader.
Understanding the Workload:
Understanding the workload that an individual has and be able to handle day to day activities. Being able to maintain a balance will help the individual be more productive and helpful in setting better boundaries. A regular working pace along with having realistic expectations can be established making the person more self-aware of the duties.
Taking Time off:
Taking time off from work and having a constant break in between can help the individual be more concentrative and productive at the same time. Taking offs when one feels exhausted should be undertaken to become helpful and productive.
Recognising and regulating one’s emotions:
The person should be able to recognise and regulate one’s emotions Understanding the same will help the individual become more self-aware. Developing emotional intelligence can increase the empathetic personality of the individual which can make the person be less effected by others’ emotions but will also be able to understand others’ emotions.
Practise to say “No” for an answer:
Saying no to the people when it goes beyond your ability to cope. Being able to stop it from affecting you and establishing boundaries by saying no is mandatory for a lot of situations. Accepting all the request makes you worked up thus increasing your burnout situations making you develop chronic anxiety as all these situations increase expectations which then inversely affect your working situation.
Setting limits at work does not imply that you have a poor attitude, want to accomplish less than your fair share of work, or lack ambition compared to your peers. Mutual respect, effective communication, and self-care for mental wellbeing are all important.
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