While this may be true, combining too many responsibilities produces poor results in both areas, thus the need to create boundaries. Below are some of these ways to set boundaries at home and work.
Setting Boundaries at Home
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Designate a Workspace
Setting boundaries is more complicated for women with work-from-home jobs. To help create boundaries, select a specific area that you will use as an office. This could be a spare bedroom, an empty room, or a corner of your room.
This space will help signal your brain that it is time to work. Also, other family members can easily tell when you are working and when you are available for tasks around the house. Once you are done with work, avoid handling non-work-related tasks, no matter how convenient the space seems. Additionally, discipline yourself to only work in the designated area.
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Talk to Your Family Members
If you are working at home, talk with the rest of your family. Although you may have a physical workspace, not every family member will understand that you are working. They may bring about distractions, thus affecting your quality.
To avoid this, let your family members know your schedule. Moreover, create boundaries through ways like shutting the door, writing signs, or putting on headphones to ask them to give you space when you are working.
Setting Boundaries at Work
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Create Work, Home, and Time off Schedules
Have a strict schedule that you follow to the letter. This is critical, especially in a case where you are your own boss. Identify the time when you will be at home and when you are at work. When it is time to move to the next step, do so without giving excuses.
Failure to stick to the schedule will lead to unhandled responsibilities at home or work. Additionally, when creating this schedule, consider all factors to ensure that your schedule is realistic.
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Stick To Your Boundaries
A major problem for most women trying to create boundaries at work and home is not setting them but striving to stick to them. To avoid this, ensure that your boundaries are realistic and something you can manage. Additionally, unless you have an unavoidable emergency, don’t alter your routine. Remember that others will respect your boundaries if they realize that you respect them yourself.
Let There Be Clear Boundaries at Work and Home
Setting boundaries between work and home responsibilities has never been easy, especially if you’re working at home. However, it is possible and you can do it too, so draw the line, and avoid pressuring yourself too much to reduce the chances of burnout. Taking a rest and some personal time can also motivate you to spend more quality time with your family and perform better in work duties.
Sources: Cision, healthline, Academy of Management, PubMed.org, tinyplus, ScienceDirect, World Health Organization
