Maintaining healthy boundaries in the workplace ensures that we are working in an environment of optimal mental wellness. When we make promises to ourselves of clocking off when we intend and avoid activities that encourage burnout, we ensure that our productivity, wellness and quality of work are protected. 

Boundaries also serve the purpose of informing those around us of our comfort zones. Without this communication, it could be challenging to pinpoint what our ideal working environments look like. Luckily, setting healthy boundaries gives everyone the tools they need to contribute to a workplace that is mental health minded. 

It’s not necessary for boundaries to be hard and fast rules that apply to every work day and situation. We can choose to be flexible with our boundaries and keep an open mind about how they can grow and evolve to fit our unique situations. Adjusting boundaries is a positive way to ensure that we are working in safe spaces custom tailored to our ever changing needs. Being flexible with our boundaries can look like changing a plan when it becomes challenging, shaking off the stigma of setting boundaries in the first place and encouraging communication with your co-workers about their boundaries to glean a clearer understanding of how to work with them as a team.

Confidence in Boundaries

Setting healthy boundaries can sometimes be a deterrent to taking care of our mental wellbeing. Some of us may be concerned that setting a boundary can come off as “rude” and that prevents us from keeping ourselves within our ideal comfort zones. 

Diane Barth, licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist in New York, pushes back on that idea by saying “boundaries are all about respect — for yourself and for the other person. Boundaries really don’t work if they’re used to punish another person. If you make it clear that you respect the other person, it’s much easier to communicate that you expect them to respect you as well”.

This cyclical mindfulness of respect ensures that the context for setting boundaries is never misunderstood. When we make our needs known, we are also communicating that we will, in turn, respect the needs of those around us. This benefits the entire workplace and allows for simpler communication  where it is easy to give each other the benefit of the doubt as we navigate our needs and abilities.

Another deterrent to setting healthy boundaries can also be stigmatization of mental health practices in general. Workplaces that have support systems in place for mental wellness and are vocal about maintaining a compassionate work environment  benefit from more contextualized conversations about topics like stress management, burnout and boundaries because they create environments of psychological safety. 

Psychological safety is the security that no one in the working environment will be punished, ridiculed or shamed for speaking up with ideas, posing questions and concerns, or making mistakes. Dr. Amy Edmondson, author of The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth, explains that people must be allowed to “voice half-finished thoughts, ask questions out of left field, and brainstorm out loud in order to create a culture that truly innovates”. 

People who feel comfortable being communicative about their needs in front of their colleagues are equipped to prevent failure because they have the freedom of thought to bring their unique ideas of success to the table. These innovations benefit the entire working environment and, by extension, the company as a whole. People who feel accepted by their work environments are able to work in healthy ways, like setting boundaries, without fear of repercussion. 

Switching it Up to Lock it Down

Keeping an open mind about boundaries also includes changing them up when they are no longer serving us. This can seem counterproductive, but it’s actually a sign of growth! As we become more comfortable in our working environments and more confident in our abilities, we are able to take on work in ways that we couldn’t before. 

For example, we may set a boundary with ourselves that we only work certain projects for a limited amount of time, but once we get comfortable with the project, we notice that it doesn’t fatigue us like it used to and we are able to work for longer without repercussions. This is a good thing, and highlights how our mental health practices are working in our favor to provide us with comfort strategies that produce results! 

Change Can Be a Good Thing!

Sometimes, the changes we experience in our work days means that we are settling into a different way of working. Being open minded about our boundaries ensures that we are never too hard on ourselves for needing to make a change. We deserve to celebrate ourselves for the positive changes that we make in the pursuit of overall wellness. Being flexible and trusting yourself to set the boundaries you need is a necessary and powerful way to support your mental wellness journey!