The secret to saying 'no' at work (without guilt) 🙅‍♀️

Do you feel like your workday never really ends?

If setting boundaries at work feels impossible (especially with constant emails and Slack pings), this week’s email is here to help.

Setting boundaries at work can be tough.

Maybe it’s the late-night emails, or being a “team player” and taking on tasks that aren’t really yours, or always feeling the pressure to keep your Slack light green.

Whatever it is, setting boundaries is a MUST for your own mental well-being and job happiness.

Not sure how to have the “I need space” convo, especially with an overbearing boss?

Here’s how to do it:

Get on the same page

If your workload already feels overwhelming and your boss is asking you to do more, ask for clarity on what's most important.

One way to (nicely) push back is to say “Happy to help with [new task], but with everything on my plate, could you help me prioritise which tasks to focus on this week?”

This will make your boss not only see that you have a lot going on, but also force them to identify what's most important, giving you the all-clear to put those less important tasks on the back burner.

The bonus here is that you will start learning what is most critical for the business so you know where to focus time and get noticed for career growth opportunities!

Schedule your focus time

Block time in your calendar for deep work each day and mark it as “busy.”

Scheduling focus time with yourself will help you be more productive and will also show others you aren't available at that time.

If someone pings you or tries to schedule a meeting with you during your focus time, you can politely say “I’ve scheduled this time to work on a deadline. Can we catch up later this afternoon?”

Log off (for real)

You need time to recharge your batteries, and if you always reply to emails and messages (even at night) then people will think you're always available.

We're boundary setting, so that stops today!

Decide when your workday ends and commit to truly logging off for the night.

That means no emails, no Slack messages, and no "checking real quick just in case".

Your coworkers will quickly learn that you will get back to them during working hours, which means you'll be protecting your evenings and preventing burnout.

Setting boundaries can be hard, but like with any relationship, you need to stand up for what's important and not let someone else decide for you!

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