by JENNIFER GOODSON, MA, LMHC
Maintaining workplace boundaries during the holiday season is possible, but it requires a little planning and a proactive mindset. While we enjoy all the positive vibes it brings, we can get washed away by overcommitting and undervaluing our time and relationships.
Don’t get me wrong — the holidays are a time for fun, bright lights, cinnamon and spice, and everything nice! BUT! This is also the end of the year, and with work demands, closing projects, and setting goals for the new year, more stress can be felt, not to mention our family interactions during holidays.
Here are a few tips to keep the work-life balance by setting healthy workplace boundaries:
- Healthy Boundaries for Work Hours and Communication
- Define work hours: Communicating with supervisors and co-workers about your availability and when you are unreachable. For instance, you can set a clear “Do Not Disturb” time on your work calendar or use the “out of office” feature in your email during non-work hours. Remote workers, set an alarm for your work hours and unplugged hours.
- Email, texts, and phone calls: Only some things need an immediate response! Remember, just because it may be urgent for someone else does not mean it is always the same for you. Use your response time wisely, and don’t allow anything to rob you of your peace. If a response can wait till the next business day, let it. Turn off the work phone or place it on “Do Not Disturb” when you are on holiday time.
- Don’t overcommit: If you are a people-pleaser or have a “job won’t get done unless I do it” personality, remember that saying “no” when a “no” is needed is a sign of strength, not weakness. Being a team player also means learning how to delegate tasks to capable co-workers. This empowerment can reduce stress and add positive morale to the team.
- Expectations: When we work with a supervisor or co-worker who does not exhibit knowledge of boundaries, it can become expected of us to match their work drive. However, we have the power to set proactive boundaries. If communication happens outside of work hours on your personal time, a boundary has been crossed. This is a red flag saying, “Set some boundaries!”
- Plan Ahead
- Setting Appointments: Just as you set appointments to meet with clients and hold meetings, do the same by allocating a daily appointment (15-20 minutes) of mindfulness during the workday. Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment, focusing on your breath or a specific task, and letting go of distractions. Take this time to ground yourself – recenter your mind on the day ahead. You’ll feel more productive and peaceful, with less stress.
- Prioritize the To-Do List: Before leaving the office each evening, place a To-Do List in the center of your desk. List each task in the priority of the deadline, putting the projects that will take multiple days in a slot each day (30 minutes-to 1 hour). This is planning ahead and setting a proactive mindset of production for the day. This routine is especially helpful for those of us (myself included) who are easily distracted.
- Be Kind to Yourself and Show Grace to Others
- Imperfection Is Allowed: The holidays bring enough stressors to the mix. Why add perfectionism to the bag? Again, don’t let anything or anyone rob your PEACE! Not everything is going to be perfect in the workplace or life. There will be times when running late is a thing and not because we’re getting a Starbucks coffee. There are so many things that are out of our control. Trying to control everything adds more stress and unrealistic expectations of self and others.
- Be Flexible: Everything goes differently than planned during the holiday season! Be prepared to be flexible with yourself and others’ time. Addressing chaos calmly in the workplace and personal life will aid in finding enjoyment amongst the hustle and bustle of the season.
Setting strong, healthy boundaries in the workplace during the holidays requires assertive communication and being self-aware of your worth and that of your co-workers. Once healthy boundaries are set, everyone can enjoy the holiday season with less stress and more fun!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jennifer Goodson, MA, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor with an office in Winter Haven and a Professor of Psychology at Warner University in Lake Wales. She holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. For more information, visit www.pathwaycounselingservice.com.