3 Tips for Politely Setting Workplace Boundaries - The Muse

3 Tips for Politely Setting Workplace Boundaries - The Muse3 Tips for Politely Setting Workplace BoundariesEver feel stretched too thin? Like everyone wants a piece of your time, and because you want to be a team player, you find yourself saying yes, embracing the conversation, accepting the emaille intro, attending the meeting, and chiming into the discussion.Its a tough spot to be in, but if you find that your work is suffering as a result- or, worse, that youre spending hours each weekend on projects you didnt get to during the week when you were sitting in meetings about a project youre barely involved in- you need to create some workplace boundaries ASAP. These three suggestions are intended to decrease those ever-rising stress levels and allow you to leave the bro each day feeling accomplished.1. Ignore ChatterWhether your organization relies on Slack or your teams prone to discuss everything aloud- from industry news to best happy hour spots- endless chatter can zap minutes of precious productivity.Reclaim your time and make choices. If speaking up or chiming in is a job requirement, then make it a part of your daily routine- but see if you can do it on your time. That means if youre digging into an assignment that requires your undivided attention, dont simply abandon it because your co-worker wants your general advice on the best way to reach out to new clients. Instead carve out 15-20 minutes of your day (maybe when you need less brain power) to catch up on everything and then respond accordingly. Let your teammates know that they can grab your attention urgently by messaging your directly, sending you an email, or popping over to your desk (really, whatever you prefer). 2. Manage Your Time and Work Flow BetterNow, depending on your role, this may be a real hurdle for you. If your job involves working closely with others and waiting on materials from colleagues before you can take next steps, you only wish you could manage your time better Nonetheless , there are usually things you can do to help with your own workflow. Look at your calendar Are there any meetings on there that you can skip? What about time blocks? Can you add a few to your calendar so no one schedules unnecessary time with you? Next, look at your process Do you need a new to-do list? How about checking out one of these six apps that are great for helping people whore easily distracted? Or, can you try something cool, like the unarguably random but impactful rule of 52 and 17? 3. Learn to Say No- for Real ThoughWhile were on the subject of taking control of the situation, thats literally what creating boundaries is Theres a way to say no, not now that isnt the same as shutting the door forever. If youre terrified of this word, I recommend checking out this article- it has seven email templates to help you say no without having to overthink it.Now, if its your boss asking you for something, youll probably want to tread a bit more lightly. But heres the thing If yo u can manage to set boundaries by implementing the first two suggestions here, then, essentially, youll have more leeway to meet all of your managers demands and then some. Clever, huh?Most days, work is a time-management balancing act. The sooner you learn to value your time and set boundaries that allow you to do just that, the happier youll be. And the happier you are, the more productive and better performing, too. Creating boundaries isnt selfish, its smart.