What are your work-boundaries?
Rewind back to a few years ago. I am slumped at my desk, low in energy, thinking about how I'll make it to the end of the day.
I was always someone who liked to workout in the morning but my new job didn't allow for it. I had to start at 8.30am on the dot and so I couldn't make my normal gym class.
As someone with an autoimmune condition, I relied on my morning workout classes to keep my energy levels up throughout the day and keep my joints working as they should be. As someone who suffered the condition more severely growing up, I learned the value of health at a young age.
It's ok, I'll start going to classes in the evenings instead, I thought. The reality was though; that the work was never finished and leaving the office early was rarely an option. When I could get up early enough, I started going to 6am classes, but by 4pm I was knackered.
I decided to speak to my boss about lunchtime workouts. I knew it wasn't the done thing to leave the office during lunch, but I had to get my exercise routine back:
“Um yes, sure you could go to yoga once a week at lunchtime if you aren't busy - just let me know when”.
It was clear lunch-time wasn't going to work.
I continued compromising on my needs in favour of the business' needs for the next year. Stress began to build and so did my workload. I cried almost every weekend, wondering how I would make it through the next week.
My energy levels were low and my sleep suffered. I began not enjoying even the fun parts of life, like hanging out with friends and my partner. I was consumed by work.
It took me to the point of a breakdown and quitting my job because I literally couldn't go on any longer, before I had the realisation:
It was on me to make sure my basic needs were being met and if they weren't, it was on me to do something about it. Before it got to this stage.
As the CEO's of our own being, we have the responsibility to know what it is we need and to change things up if our needs are not being met.
After all, the word "responsible" really means “response-able” - we literally have the ability to respond, according to our needs.
Some leaders might be old-fashioned, performance-driven and masculine-centric, but we can't expect them to be mind-readers. It's on us as employees to set our own boundaries and if they aren't met - to act accordingly.
By compromising on such a small thing as my morning workout routine, my entire wellbeing suffered. I vowed never again to compromise on such an important value of mine as my health.
Now, even though I'm a business owner, I schedule in my gym or yoga classes before anything else, as this is my priority. I know that if everything else falls apart, I still have my health and wellbeing.
Do you know your own work-boundaries? Here are some journal prompts to help bring awareness to them:
What is my overall priority in life?
What do I need to perform at my best?
Where in my life are my needs not being met?
What am I compromising on in order to do this job?
Where in my life am I suffering?
Once you have an understanding of what it is you need to be at your best, go ahead and have a chat with your boss. They should understand that you'll perform better and retain you for longer if your most important needs are being met - whether that's attending your kid's football practice or getting some fresh air throughout the day.
Once your boss is aware, go ahead and block that time in your calendar - make it a non-negotiable and for a change, put your own needs first. Trust me, you'll be a better employee, partner, mother and friend for it! 🧡
