Work-life balance: For some, it’s a cinch, but for most workers, it’s a difficult thing to achieve. With remote working and the 24/7 availability of technology, the line between work and personal life tends to get blurred easily. That is especially true in high-pressure working environments, where the hours are long, and the quality of service cannot be compromised.

But if you wish to succeed in your work, it is vital for you to start setting boundaries between work and personal time. Here’s why boundaries are important and how you can set them.

Importance of setting boundaries

Contrary to what most workers think, drawing the line between work and personal hours is not an indicator of underworking. Unfortunately, the glamorization of hustle culture pushes us to be constantly productive to the point of not having enough time for ourselves. But ultimately, this only leads to exhaustion and burnout.

Having boundaries, then, is a form of self-care, as it allows you to improve your physical and mental health, work on hobbies, and foster relationships outside of work. As a result, you become healthier and more productive, and you’ll have a better perspective of the industry you are in.

How to set boundaries

Appreciate your worth

When we feel as if we’re not giving our all, we tend to throw ourselves into our work to seek approval and usefulness. But in doing so, we’re just feeding the cycle of overworking, and we tend to say yes all the time.

To prevent that, the founder of The Blurt Foundation and self-care advocate Jayne Hardy suggests that you take a step back to evaluate your skills, expertise, and experiences, and reflect on what you bring to the company. By understanding your value, you will only want what’s best for you, including a carved-out time for yourself.

Set clear work and personal hours

The key to differentiating work and personal life is setting clear hours for both and sticking to them. According to a work from home guide by freelancer James Gonzales, it’s important to make it clear to everyone, including yourself, what behavior is appropriate during certain hours.

“No bending the rules to watch a quick show or take out the dog,” he wrote. “If it’s time to rest, make sure your team and clients know it.” Setting limits on both will encourage you to prioritize your workload and prevent you from working too much.

Use co-working spaces

Co-working spaces are now becoming a popular option, particularly those located in hotels. Because hotels have a lot of communal areas, they can cater to those looking for spaces to work. Also, since they’re open 24/7 with a reliable internet connection and high-quality service, they can accommodate workers with different styles and needs. Because you get to be surrounded by fellow remote workers, these spaces can also give you the right mindset while working, so your productivity levels rise.

Moreover, just as we discussed in a previous HoCoSo post, while these co-working spaces satisfy our need for interaction and connection, we still have our own private corners. Lastly, they provide excellent facilities, like restaurants, pools, and even gyms, which can be enjoyed after a long, hard day at work.

While stress from working is inevitable, there are certainly ways to reduce the impact it will have on us. That includes being firm with your boundaries between work and personal life. It may be difficult at first, but by consciously including it in your routine, it will become easier over time. After all, as author and motivational speaker Tony Gaskins said, “You teach people how to treat you by what you allow, what you stop and what you reinforce.”

 

Guest author: Amber Snider

 

About HoCoSo

HoCoSo are advisors with a difference.

We create tailor-made and innovative solutions for clients’ hospitality-led projects by bringing together the optimum team of sector specialists.

Jonathan Humphries, Chairman and Owner of HoCoSo, and his direct team specialize in the extended-stay, co-living, and hotel-alternatives hospitality market; luxury, lifestyle and boutique hotels; and resort developments in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Our strengths lie in the following core services:

During the covid19 crisis, HoCoSo launched HoCoSo CONNECT, an initiative aimed at bringing the industry together to brainstorm and collaborate; HoCoSo CONVERSATION, a podcast channel encouraging the discussion with thought leaders from around the globe, for the hospitality industry; and, in collaboration with Atlas Coaching and Cervus Leadership Consulting, we also launched the Hospitality Resilience Series , a combination of online events, insights and discussions aimed at helping build your personal resilience and inner immunity.