3 Boundaries to Establish as a High-Achieving Professional

When your job takes up a good portion of your time, it’s easy for your work-related problems to become your life. As a high-achieving professional, setting clear boundaries is essential for protecting your personal well-being.

Here are 3 types of boundaries you can start working on today—especially if you're navigating a busy schedule:

Communication Boundaries: You Don’t Have to Be “Always On”

• Response Time: You know those clients that text you and then call you 5 minutes after because they didn’t hear back… {{insert Eye Twitch}}. Make sure to clearly communicate to clients and colleagues when they can expect a response. This can include setting specific times during the day when you'll respond to emails or calls and informing them of your preferred communication methods (e.g., email, phone).

  • Ex. “Email is my preferred method of communication; I will get back to you within 24 hours. However, if it’s urgent (explain what urgent means) please text me at _____ and I’ll get back to you by the end of the day.” 

    
    

• Follow-up Protocols: We know - you’re hella busy and sometimes, things fall through the cracks so let clients know the appropriate time to follow up if they haven't received a response from you. This helps manage expectations and reduces anxiety for both parties!

  • Ex. “If you don’t hear back from me within 24 hours, please text me and I’ll be sure to circle back by the end of the day.”

    
    

• Availability: "End of Day" means different things to different people so be sure to define your working hours and communicate them. This helps prevent burnout by reducing the pressure to be constantly accessible.

  • Ex. “For any messages received after the end of the day (6pm/EST) they will be answered the following business day.”

Work-Life Boundaries: Your Breaks Are Not Optional

• Scheduled Breaks: A hangry brain isn’t a productive one. Schedule regular breaks, including lunch, in your calendar. Treat these breaks as non-negotiable appointments to ensure you take time to rest and recharge.

  
  

• End-of-Day Routine: Set a specific time to stop working each day. We know, easier said than done, but you’ll thank us later! Use an alarm on your phone to help you adhere to this boundary. You work hard and you deserve to relax too.

• Managing Expectations: We see it all the time, high-achievers pulling extra hours to stand out. Setting boundaries will not be easy but remember that maintaining work-life balance is essential for long-term success and well-being.

  
  

Ethical Boundaries: Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should

• Scope of Practice: Sometimes, friends and family see your title and assume you can handle anything they throw at you. Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you owe it to everyone. Be clear about what’s in your lane. It's okay to refer them to others in your network if you prefer not to mix personal relationships with professional responsibilities.

  
  

• Mental Health and Well-being: Recognize that you are not obligated to take on every request outside of your professional setting, even if it is your specialty. Prioritize your mental health and set limits on the number of responsibilities you take on.

Therapy Can Help You Set (and Keep) the Boundaries You Need

We really believe you are your best self when you care for yourself. Boundaries are necessary to protect your energy, time, space and keep you doing what you love to do without resenting it in the long run. If you’re struggling to establish boundaries, it’s okay it’s not always easy, but that’s where therapy can help!  

Ready to Protect Your Peace?

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