What Boundaries Have You Put in Place to Maintain a Healthy Work/Life Blend?

So often I hear of leaders making personal sacrifices for the purpose of fulfilling a work task. And while this is SOMETIMES required, it should not be a regular practice.

If you’re someone who is always available, willing to work long hours and never say ‘no’ to requests then this will become what others expect. They won’t consider what you’re missing in order to deliver what they need. And those sacrifices, over time, can have big consequences in our life.

What Are You Missing Out On?

🏃‍♀️ Your Health

Perhaps you miss out on exercise or resort to eating food that is quick and easy over what is nutritionally beneficial.

👨‍👩‍👦 Family Time

Maybe you miss out on putting your kids to bed, helping them with their homework, or being present for important moments.

🍷 Social Connections

You might find yourself missing time with friends, and over time, your circle could shrink to just the people you work with.

🤦‍♀️ Leadership Growth

Perhaps you’re so busy fulfilling the requests of others that you miss the opportunity to develop your team and delegate effectively.

You can never get back the time you miss doing things that are important to you. And while I’m a huge supporter of saying ‘yes’ to opportunities, it has to be the exception and not the rule.

How to Take Back Control

If you’re starting to question whether the sacrifices are worth it, consider putting in place a few small (and flexible when required) boundaries to regain control in your life. You might simply decide to:

✅ Stop work by 6pm most days

Setting a clear end to your workday helps create separation between professional and personal life. Without a cutoff, work can bleed into your evenings, leaving little time for relaxation or personal priorities. While occasional late nights may be necessary, making them a habit can lead to burnout and reduced productivity.

✅ Not respond to emails after hours (or after a particular hour)

Constant availability can create the expectation that you are always “on.” Setting a boundary around email response times allows you to recharge and focus on personal time. If urgent matters arise, consider setting an autoresponder to communicate when you’ll be available again, ensuring a balance between responsiveness and downtime.

✅ Block out time in your calendar for strategic and proactive tasks

Without dedicated focus time, your day can easily be consumed by meetings and reactive work. Blocking out time in your calendar ensures that high-value tasks—like planning, strategizing, and personal development—aren’t constantly deprioritized. Treat these blocks as non-negotiable appointments with yourself to keep progress on long-term goals.

✅ Eat lunch, uninterrupted and away from your desk, each day

Skipping meals or eating while working can negatively impact your health, digestion, and focus. Taking a proper lunch break, away from screens, allows you to reset, recharge, and return to work more energized. It also provides an opportunity to socialise with colleagues or step outside for fresh air.

✅ Go to the gym every morning before work

Starting the day with exercise builds a strong routine, enhances physical and mental health, and sets a positive tone for the day. Morning workouts reduce stress, improve focus, and prevent excuses later in the day when work obligations pile up. Prioritising fitness helps ensure well-being remains a non-negotiable part of life.

✅ Schedule regular social time with friends and family

Work can easily dominate your calendar, but relationships need nurturing too. Scheduling dedicated time with loved ones ensures you stay connected, maintain a strong support system, and prevent work from isolating you. Whether it’s a weekly dinner, phone call, or weekend catch-up, intentional social time enriches your life.

✅ Take short breaks throughout the day to reset

Working non-stop without breaks leads to diminishing returns in productivity. Short breaks—whether it’s a 5-minute walk, stretching, or stepping away from your desk—help reset focus, reduce stress, and boost creativity. Building in these micro-breaks makes work more sustainable and keeps energy levels consistent throughout the day.

✅ Define and communicate your boundaries clearly

Setting boundaries is only effective if others know about them. Be clear with colleagues, managers, and even yourself about when you’re available and when you’re not. Consistency is key—when you enforce your boundaries respectfully and firmly, others will learn to respect them too.

By implementing even a few of these boundaries, you’ll create a more sustainable balance that allows you to excel at work without sacrificing the things that truly matter.

Better Boundaries, Better Success

When you start to prioritise the things that are important in all areas of your life you’ll find ways to get your work done and succeed professionally.

You’ll prioritise your work better and manage your time more effectively. And when you’re doing that you’ll have more energy to deliver high quality work, become more positive and optimistic about your future and build confidence around what you’re capable of.

By putting clear boundaries in place, you can expect to:

• Manage your time more effectively – Focus on important tasks instead of constantly reacting to demands.
• Reduce stress and prevent burnout – Protect your mental and physical health by creating space to recharge.
• Strengthen relationships – Spend more quality time with family and friends instead of letting work consume your life.
• Improve productivity and work quality – Approach tasks with more focus, creativity, and problem-solving ability.
• Develop stronger leadership skills – Delegate more effectively and empower your team instead of taking on everything yourself.
• Feel more in control of your career – Stop feeling overwhelmed and start setting expectations that align with your long-term goals.
• Create a healthier work-life balance – Make time for hobbies, exercise, and personal growth without guilt.
• Increase confidence and job satisfaction – Set boundaries that align with your values and reinforce your self-worth.

Boundaries Aren’t Barriers—They’re Guidelines for Success

Setting and enforcing boundaries doesn’t have to be rigid and inflexible, they just need to set a base level expectation that allows you to succeed in all areas of your life.

What are your boundaries? Do you struggle to enforce them?

Reach out for a chat if you’d like some strategies to put some boundaries in place that won’t jeopardise your future career aspirations.

About the Author: Shelley Flett – Leadership Development Expert

Shelley Flett is a highly experienced coach and trainer for all things leadership development and team performance. She has worked with hundreds of challenges across just as many organisations and loves to watch leaders grow and teams transform! Find out more about how Shelley can support you and your team click on this link to Shelley’s Essemy profile.