By guest contributor Martine Paulin
Does work-life balance really exist when your workplace is your home? When your computer and phone are always within reach? When people can contact you a million different ways, anytime? It’s easy for others to assume that you’ll respond immediately, so how do you set boundaries without coming off as “indifferent” or “difficult”?
Finding balance depends on you and the limits you set for yourself. It also depends on how well others respect them. Personally, I think that setting limits for ourselves and being open and honest about them with those we work with is the key to finding balance.
I have been teleworking for a while now, so adjusting to remote work was pretty easy. However, the systems and limits I had put in place for myself to stay organized quickly went out the window when the pandemic hit. I went from using my telework days to focus on certain tasks and “catch-up”, to being at “work” all the time.
I am usually good at planning my time and organizing my work, but I quickly found myself responding to emails and instant messaging chats from the minute I woke up and into the evenings. I was losing patience with my kids and getting annoyed by family interruptions. I was never really fully “present” in either my home or work life and it was taking a toll on my mental health and my relationships.
I had to pause for a moment to think things through and come up with a plan.
I had conversations with my family, my team and my manager. I wanted to figure out what I could do to make sure my needs and theirs were met.
It became clear that I had to set limits for myself. Here’s what helped me find my balance.
Tips for finding balance
Create your space, if it’s possible for you
Working at the kitchen table all day wouldn’t cut it anymore. I made myself a small office, complete with the equipment I needed to be comfortable and productive. There was now a physical separation between my office and my personal space. It really helped me transition from one mindset to another.
Establish working hours
I re-established my regular office hours and encouraged the team to do so as well, while being flexible to adjust to people’s needs and situations. I booked some time for myself in my calendar so I could take a couple of health breaks every day to eat, stretch and go outside.
Stop replying instantly
I stopped responding to everything instantly. I explained to my team and my manager that I was still monitoring my emails regularly and that I would respond within 24 hours, if not urgent. No need to follow-up with me the same day by email or instant messaging. If, for any reason, I couldn’t meet their timelines or didn’t think I could respond to their request in a timely manner, I would let them know asap so we could find a solution. Only urgent requests would warrant an urgent response. We also talked about what urgent meant for me and them, to ensure we were on the same page.
I stopped engaging in all the instant messaging chats, and there are many! Of course, I kept an eye on them but responded only when I was tagged or someone asked me a question. I explained to my team that it didn’t mean that I was uninterested or not engaged, but that my focus at the time of the chat was elsewhere. I chime in when I can, without feeling an obligation to do so all the time.
Make time for social connections
I still make time to engage the team on fun stuff every day. Saying good morning, sending funny GIFs, once in a while, and recognizing employees’ good work, is still very important to me and helps us connect to one another.
Clarify expectations
As a team, we clarified expectations, theirs and mine as their manager, and agreed on a communication protocol, i.e. what tools to use for what and when. I also encouraged my team members to also set boundaries for themselves and to voice them.
I strongly believe that having open conversations about how we work together really helps ensure everyone functions to their best capacity, while minimizing assumptions and miscommunications. It makes collaboration and our daily interactions a lot simpler.
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Setting limits and finding balance is personal. It means different things to different people. Everyone will have their own approach. What is important however is recognizing each other’s differences and needs, and respecting them. As a leader and an employee, it is important to give ourselves permission to talk about these things, to keep the conversation going and to lead by example. Being aware of your personal and work needs, setting limits and maintaining a dialogue with those you work with, can definitely help you balance it all.
