Stabilizing My Consulting World

Creating 'Personal Appointments' For Breathing Room

Observing Where Your Boundaries Are For Work Related Issues

For many people, there is a struggle to balance work-related issues from bleeding into other areas in our lives. When this happens, what can we observe about the boundaries that we define our work environment?

• What expectation do you have of yourself to work after you leave the office?
• How do you say "no" to your boss or your colleagues?
• How do others at work define their boundaries with work?
• How pervasive do people at work 'Manage by Exception' rather than 'Managing by a Rule?'

These reflective questions offer insight in how we define our boundaries for work (or anything else that feels overwhelming). Before declaring to others when they can or cannot reach you, it is important to know what self-imposed boundaries we place on ourselves.

Communicating to others is an important second step for managing work boundaries. When can people reach you? If you are not available for conversation, when can they reach you? Managing your career is not easy, nor are managing people’s expectations. The best that you can do is try different methods and ask for feedback as to whether the system that you have built maintains a productive environment.

Making Time for Transition

Depending on the daily rhythm of your life and the work boundaries that have been defined, one may experience differing levels of stress. For example, a schedule with a high amount of unpredictability may feel very stressful. In these cases, it may help to schedule “personal appointments” in the calendar to help create breathing room or to help with the transition (e.g. from work to home). The big take-home point here is to provide a break from endless back-to-back meetings. Whether the boss or client unexpectedly calls a meeting or whether your work calendar books up early, your mind and your temperament need time to allow you transition to the second half of your day after work.

Here are a few suggestions for when to plan "personal appointments"

• After arriving at destination (travel schedule) and prior to the first meeting at the office
• Transition between leaving work and arriving at home
• Transition between managing home life and going to sleep
• After arriving at home (travel schedule) and prior to managing home life

Do not feel guilty about taking this break for yourself. Remember, your goal is to sustain high levels of performance without sacrificing your health or your happiness. Taking a few breaks and noticing where your stress levels currently lie are important for maintaining your optimum levels.