Setting Boundaries for Work and Personal Growth

Work will take all the time you give to it. This thought came up today in the classroom I was teaching, and it made me reflect on the times I’ve let work steal time from other things that truly matter. I once told my husband, 'I just need 20 minutes to respond to a few work emails, and then we can watch the movie.' Famous last words. Two and a half hours later, I walked into the living room… only to find him asleep on the couch, with a note next to him that read, 'You meant 200 minutes?' That was a pretty clear sign that work had taken more than its fair share of time that night. Since then, I’ve learned a few tricks to keep work from creeping into every corner of my day. Here are three tips that have helped me (and saved my evenings!): (1) Set clear boundaries: It’s easy to get sucked into work and lose track of time. Now, I set specific work hours and stick to them. They vary by day, depending on what is on the agenda. The laptop gets closed at a set time, and the phone stays close to it, out of sight. If something urgent comes up… well, it can wait until tomorrow. (2) Prioritize what's really important: I used to think every email and task was top priority, and I’d reply within hours. Now, I focus on the three most important things each day. If it’s not on that list, it doesn’t get my immediate attention. (3) Practice saying no: I used to say yes to most things—meetings, projects, you name it—thinking I could squeeze it all in. But it turned out I was squeezing out time for other parts of my life I cared about. Learning to say no (politely) has freed up my time for things I enjoy, like movie nights. It’s easy to let work take over, especially when we love what we do. But with some boundaries, we can reclaim our time… and make space for the people and moments that matter most. #timeManagement #time #work #life #relationships #planningFallacy #leadership #boundaries

"You don't have to set yourself on fire to keep others warm." That quote saved my career. And it’s one every employee needs to hear. Most of us are afraid of setting boundaries. We fear disappointing others more than burning ourselves out. Think about that for a second. We'd rather: • Work through lunch (again) • Take that 10 pm call • Say yes to another project • Push our limits until we break To avoid risking someone being temporarily disappointed. The irony? Weak boundaries don't just lead to burnout. They breed resentment. They damage relationships. They make us less effective at the very jobs we’re trying to protect. Here’s what I’ve learned - both personally and professionally: Boundaries aren’t selfish. They’re essential. They protect your well-being, your career, and your energy. One of my favorite reminders: "Boundaries are the distance at which I can love you and me simultaneously." Effective boundaries look like this: 1. Define your role in writing. Document your duties, expectations, and any changes. 2. Communicate limits early and clearly. Don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed. 3. Document overreach, shifting priorities, and extra demands. Keep a written record. 4. Watch for pressure tactics. “Team player” language often hides unreasonable asks. 5. Know when flexibility becomes exploitation. Helping occasionally is fine, but doing three jobs is not. 6. Use facts, not feelings. Anchor boundaries in workload, fairness, and documented expectations. You don’t owe anyone your exhaustion. You owe yourself clarity, strategy, and self-respect. Follow for more on how to protect your career without sacrificing yourself. #EmploymentAttorney #CaliforniaEmploymentLaw #EmployeeRights Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional legal advice. It does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Please consult a qualified attorney for advice on your specific legal situation.

Stop apologizing for setting boundaries at work. Stand firm with these 15 moves: I spent (many) years apologizing for needing focused work time, taking earned vacations, and saying no to draining commitments. Until I realized: Setting boundaries isn't about being difficult - it's about teaching people how to value you. Here are the exact scripts that changed everything: 1. Setting healthy boundaries in high-pressure environments ↳Use calendar color-coding to signal focus time vs. collaborative hours 2. Taking their full vacation time to prevent burnout ↳Schedule mini-breaks leading up to longer vacations for smoother transitions 3. Disconnecting completely during personal time ✨ ↳Designate a shutdown ritual (close all tabs, clear desk...) to end the work day 4. Declining meetings without clear agendas ↳Offer weekly Office Hours as an alternative to ad-hoc meetings 5. Asking for compensation that matches their value ↳Document revenue generated + costs saved by your work 6. Speaking up about unrealistic deadlines ↳Develop metrics based on past projects to accurately predict timelines 7. Prioritizing mental health over hustle culture ↳Create (and use!) quiet spaces designated for quick mental breaks. Lead by example here ✨ 8. Saying no to unpaid extra responsibilities ↳Try: "Thanks for thinking of me, let's discuss the value exchange" 9. Leaving toxic work environments without guilt ↳Write a Clean Exit memo for yourself - focus on your future plans, not past problems 10. Requiring work-life integration that works for them ↳Create Life-First Blocks, and schedule personal commitments before work ones (I do this every Sunday) 11. Standing firm on their expertise in meetings ↳Start responses with "Based on my experience handling X similar situations..." 🙌🏼 12. Taking time to think before committing to projects ↳Consider: "Would I want this on my plate a month from now?" 13. Protecting their team from unnecessary stress ↳Ask "Is this urgent, important, or interesting?" for every new task 14. Choosing growth over comfort zones ↳Design mini experiments to test new approaches and build confidence 15. Leading with empathy instead of authority ↳Spend 2 hrs monthly doing your team's most challenging tasks - share what you learn as a group ✨ Your boundaries are a blueprint for how you deserve to be treated. No apologies needed. Which boundary can you work on setting this week (without apologizing)? -- ♻️ Repost to boost your network's confidence 🔔 Follow me Dr. Carolyn Frost for daily insights on building confidence & setting powerful boundaries

I lost a promotion for not being "available enough." I was already: • Working 60+ hours weekly • Answering emails at 11pm • Taking calls on weekends A month later, I quit. BEST decision ever. The "always available" trap destroys careers silently. You think your responsiveness is impressive. Your boss sees it as expected. Your peers start avoiding you. Your health deteriorates slowly. When you're always available, people assume: • Your time isn't valuable • Your work isn't important • Your skills aren't in demand Sometimes, the most valuable people are the least available. The playbook that changed everything for me: 1. Create scarcity. Block "deep work" time on your calendar. Turn notifications off. Don't apologize for focusing. 2. Set clear boundaries. I tell new clients: "I'm offline after 5pm and on weekends." This doesn't scare good clients away. It attracts clients who respect professionals. 3. Increase your standards. The most in-demand people have the strictest boundaries. Their time is protected. Their energy is protected. Their focus is protected. Here's what happened after I quit and set boundaries: • My hourly rate tripled • My client quality improved • My stress level plummeted • My work got dramatically better Because boundaries aren't selfish. They're strategic. What boundary do you need to establish today? ---- If this hit home, repost ♻️ it And give me a follow → Nick Maciag 🙌

'Always on' isn't commitment. It's the fastest path to burnout. I learned this the hard way. Running on empty isn't sustainable—and it’s not success. Here are 7 principles I’ve learned to protect my peace, set boundaries, and thrive: ❌ Old Principle: Keep emotions out of work. ✅ New Principle: Lead with emotional intelligence. ↳ Use empathy to strengthen relationships. ↳ Handle conflicts with clarity and compassion. ❌ Old Principle: Prioritize work over rest. ✅ New Principle: Schedule rest to fuel your work. ↳ Schedule breaks like meetings—they’re non-negotiable. ↳ Disconnect fully during downtime to recharge. ❌ Old Principle: Solve everything yourself. ✅ New Principle: Delegate and empower others. ↳ Ask, “Who can handle this 80% as well as I can?” ↳ Focus on what only you can do. ❌ Old Principle: Multi-task to get more done. ✅ New Principle: Focus to get it done right. ↳ Group similar tasks to maximize efficiency. ↳ Shut off distractions during key work blocks. ❌ Old Principle: Say yes to everything. ✅ New Principle: Guard your time fiercely. ↳ Set clear boundaries upfront. ↳ “Let me check and get back to you.” ❌ Old Principle: Follow a rigid schedule. ✅ New Principle: Flexibility fuels creativity. ↳ Leave room for spontaneity. ↳ Be open to opportunities when inspiration strikes. ❌ Old Principle: Busy equals important. ✅ New Principle: Purposeful beats busy. ↳ Review weekly tasks—what can you eliminate? ↳ Spend more time on high-impact activities. The real secret? It’s not just about working smarter. It’s about setting boundaries that protect your peace and balance. Which of these new principles will you apply first? Let me know in the comments ⬇️ ♻️ Repost to help your network reclaim their time, energy, and boundaries! ➕ Follow Marco Franzoni for more insights on thriving at work and in life.

How I Preserve My Sanity as a Program Manager at Amazon When I first started as a program manager at Amazon, I thought the key to success was being available 24/7 and saying “yes” to everything. It didn’t take long to realize that approach wasn’t sustainable. Setting boundaries became essential—not just for me, but for my cross-functional partners as well. Here’s what’s helped me: 1️⃣ Be Clear About Priorities It’s easy to get pulled in every direction. Now, when a new request comes in, I take a step back and evaluate it against current priorities. If it doesn’t align, I explain why or outline what trade-offs would be required. Being upfront ensures everyone is focused on what truly matters. 2️⃣ Protect Focus Time I used to let my calendar fill up with back-to-back meetings, leaving no room for deep work. Now, I block focus time and let my partners know that’s when I tackle the bigger, strategic tasks. It’s made a huge difference in my productivity. 3️⃣ Empower Cross-Functional Partners I used to feel like I needed to be involved in every decision. Over time, I’ve learned to trust my partners to take ownership in their areas. Empowering them not only speeds up progress but also strengthens our collaboration. 4️⃣ Communicate Clearly and Consistently Boundaries only work if everyone’s on the same page. I make sure to align on responsibilities, timelines, and deliverables early. Clear communication helps avoid misunderstandings and builds stronger relationships. Setting boundaries isn’t about doing less—it’s about making space to focus on what matters most. It’s been a game-changer for my work and my collaborations. How do you set boundaries in your role? #Leadership #ProgramManagement #Amazon #WorkLifeBalance