Leadership On The Run

Boundary management in the hybrid workplace

Episode Summary

If back to back Zoom meetings, constant updates through MS Teams and SMS messages from work buzzing for your attention during the night sounds familiar, than its time to listen up and find out how to manage the boundaries between work and play.

Episode Notes

If you are like me, one simple way to separate work and home is to get dressed, walk out the front door and work from somewhere else – in an office, a coffee shop, library, a park - anywhere really, as long as it isn’t at home. This is my way of setting boundaries. 

Studies by Ashforth, et al (2000) and the University of Zurich (Wepfer et al, 2018) have illustrated the importance of boundary management and wellbeing recovery strategies to achieve better general wellbeing and productivity in life. 

These studies show the importance of setting both:

for effectively achieving a level of work and life wellbeing. 

Physical space

  1. Separate work-space 
  2. Number of people in home (less = easier to set boundaries)       

Psychological space

  1. Say no    

Time space

  1. Scheduled work hours – willpower/discipline to stick with them
  2. Set guidelines e.g. no work on Saturday (no matter what). Lunch times, break times (With activities other than work)                                                  
  3. Diarise pleasure activities – gaming, walking, reading, brain puzzles, cooking, eating, learning, shopping, swimming, golf, exercise.

All these suggestions are great practical tips…..and they all mirror the neuro science evidence based knowledge relating to boundary management & maximising the brains level of attention…which is

  1. Physical space – Separate areas for work in the home environment.
  2. Mind space  – your ability to concentrate, self-regulate, control impulses and be mindful.
  3. Time space – time limits and time structure between  work, family, and personal wellbeing.

We have 5 more tips that will help you focus, concentrate effectively and maintain high levels of attention.

The Neuro science based knowledge 

5 tips for maintaining high levels of attention: 

  1. Work on one task at a time

Establish work routines where you only focus attention on one task, goal at a time. We can all multi-task a little, however, it means we may recall less and burn up energy faster. 

Reduce distractions - close all ‘pop-ups’ and ‘alerts on your computer or smart phone unless they are to alert you to stop and change activity. 

 

  1. Take micro-breaks
After each meeting or intense work activity have a micro-break. Take 5- or 10-minute breaks during your workday – do some exercise, mindfulness or open a window and observe what’s going on outside, any activity that switches your thinking and focus away from the work you were doing.
  1. Aim to finish meetings early. 

 

If you have one-hour meetings in your schedule – aim to finish the meeting in 45 minutes. Each time you do this, take a 15-minute micro-break. 

 

  1. Take time to reflect

Our brain needs time to process the events of the day. Create a time in the middle or end of your workday to reflect, make notes, record actions, check and reset your schedule and check your emotions and energy levels. 

 

  1. Set goals

Have daily goals to complete. Have a goal for each meeting you attend. Set both wellbeing goals and work goals each day for yourself.