While in an ideal world we can draw a clear line between our private and work lives, the reality is that it is never that simple. Your boss is friends with you on Facebook, family members call you at work, and your colleagues are constantly discussing or asking curious questions. So where do you draw the line between being social at work and your private life? And how can you do this without looking like an insensitive bag? If you struggle with this problem at work, here are a few tips for maintaining a healthy balance.
Know where your personal boundaries are Protecting your personal space and setting clear boundaries at work can improve your mental well-being, reduce stress and even improve the social dynamics of the office. Before you can separate your personal life from your work, however, you need to know where your personal boundaries lie. We are all different. What is comfortable (or uncomfortable) for you?
Start by identifying some of the most important things people do at work that make you feel uncomfortable or cause unnecessary stress. Would you rather not be called home after a certain time? Do you find it difficult when your colleagues gossip about other employees? Would you rather not talk about your finances or personal relationships at work? Rather than trying to completely separate your personal life from your work, make sure you strike a comfortable balance by maintaining professionalism in your personal life and setting realistic boundaries at work.
Speak those boundaries and enforce them
Once you have defined your personal boundaries, you need to communicate them clearly to your colleagues. If you've never set boundaries at work, you'll probably feel a little uncomfortable or even guilty at first, but as long as you stay polite and professional, clearly defining your boundaries will help avoid long-term misunderstandings. .
Try this:If you find yourself being pulled into a conversation that makes you uncomfortable, communicate your boundaries by saying something like "I'm sorry, that's personal" or "I'm not comfortable talking to you." discuss this at work.” Or if someone is constantly interrupting you with chatter, you can politely but firmly let them know that you need to get back to work. It is much better to be open and honest about your limits early on than to get involved in something you are not comfortable with, as this can lead to feelings of resentment on both sides in the long run.
Use different social networking opportunities for different purposes
If you want to separate your work relationships from your personal ones, it's a good idea to separate them online as well. The easiest way to avoid overlap is to use different social networking sites for different purposes. For example, Twitter and LinkedIn are excellent tools for developing your professional network, while Facebook is often better suited for sharing photos and news with your family and close friends.
Of course it is also important to pass these preferences on to your contacts. So if a colleague or client sends you a friend request on Facebook, politely explain that you use your Facebook account to stay in touch with close friends and family, and then invite them to contact you on LinkedIn or Twitter. . Likewise, if friends or family members share personal information or photos of you on the networks you try to use for professional connections, you should let them know that you prefer to use Facebook for personal interactions.
Accept that you will never be able to completely separate the two
Because our work and private lives are so intertwined, separating them completely isn't always a realistic goal. Rather than trying to completely separate your personal life from your work, make sure you strike a comfortable balance by maintaining professionalism in your personal life and setting realistic boundaries at work. about your children, marital status or personal hobbies come up when you are at work. Rather than stressing yourself out, decide in advance how much you'd like to share with your colleagues or what topics you're willing to discuss.
Once you accept that your work and private life are always connected in some ways, you can better manage your responsibilities in both areas and enjoy healthier relationships too.
