This #1 practice to improve productivity might surprise you
[This is about a 6 minute read]
Have you ever felt stressed, overwhelmed, frustrated, or resentful at work? Me too!
You probably know that you are less effective and productive when those feelings come around, which doesn’t bode well for you or the projects you’re working on.
What you might not realize is that those moments are often indicators of an unrecognized boundary being neglected (I surely didn’t for a while).
It took me a while to catch the boundary bus. But once I did, I found that honoring my boundaries was my top practice for improving productivity.
I think part of the reason it took me so long to catch on to that is because many discussions about boundaries revolve around setting them with others and involve conflict situations.
But the truth is there’s a lot of work to do in setting boundaries with ourselves. In reality we are often our biggest boundary-neglectors and crossers. It’s easy to ignore our own needs, set too high of expectations on ourselves, or to keep saying yes. Yet it’s these lack of boundaries that are most likely affecting your productivity, and in the end, your follow-through on projects.
When you boil it down, honoring boundaries is a practice of coming to understand your preferences. And your preferences, it turns out, are really important for helping you do your best work because a) they help you find more fulfillment and joy, and b) they help you understand what you need to focus, be creative, and get things done.
This sounds obvious - but it’s an often glossed-over fact. One complicated by another fact that sometimes boundaries can be tricky to define and enforce. But to get started all you really need is some intentionality to recognize when and what you need. Then usually a little trial and error will get you the rest of the way. In the end, a few tweaks to honor your boundaries make a huge difference in how you feel while you’re working and how your projects turn out.
The tool: Setting Boundaries for Productivity
This framework is a tool to help you discover and set boundaries that improve your productivity and effectiveness.
RECOGNIZE
Recognize when you recurrently feel something unpleasant or out of the ordinary. This usually indicates a boundary would be beneficial. For example, if you are feeling:
Resentful
Hesitant and procrastinating
Overwhelmed
Drained
Like you “should” do something, rather than wanting to
Anxious
REFLECT
Reflect on what is contributing to your feelings.
For example, are you feeling resentful because you are working a lot of hours or taking on extra work? Are you hesitating or procrastinating because you feel obligated to say yes, even if it doesn’t make sense to? Are you overwhelmed because you are working on too many things right now?
It helps to ask yourself why five times so you can uncover multiple factors leading to that feeling.
Why am I feeling ____?
And why is that?
And why is that?
And why is that?
And why is that?
DEFINE & DECIDE
Define the boundary you need to set and decide how you will honor the boundary. Trust yourself here - you probably have at least an inkling of what to do. See the list below if you need some inspiration.
COMMIT & INTEGRATE
Make an intentional commitment to your boundary. If you both communicate it to someone you trust AND write it down, those actions make you more likely to stick with it.
Consider if there is anything else you need to help you stick with your boundary and take care of those things. For example, giving yourself reminders, prompts, or notes and making changes to your environment.
If anyone might be affected by your boundary, it’s helpful to communicate it to them ahead of time. For example, if you turn notifications off on your phone during the workday to help you focus, you may want to give a heads up to anyone who typically calls or texts you during the day.
BOUNDARY SETTING EXAMPLES
Overwhelmed because you’re…
…Not giving yourself time to focus?
…Prioritizing responding to others' emails or non-urgent questions ahead of your own work?
…Trying to do too much?
Try this:
Block out and reinforce focus times when you feel your most productive.
Check emails only at certain intervals. (Does anyone really need a response in less than an hour?) Close down email and notifications outside of those intervals and add an away notification if that makes you feel better.
Decide on your most important thing to focus on. And do it.
Procrastinating because you…
…feel obligated to say yes, even if you know the ask is not a priority?
…feel overwhelmed by too much to do?
Try this:
Start answering requests for your time with, “Let me check my calendar/schedule and get back to you,” or “I’m currently focusing on ____ and would be happy to talk about this more with you once I finish,” instead of a blanket yes. It helps if you write a template for yourself.
Refer to ideas above for overwhelm.
Feeling resentful because you….
…are working extra hours?
…are not taking breaks or time off completely free of work?
Try this:
Commit to getting home at a certain time. If you find after a while that means you can’t get your work done, it could indicate your workload is too much.
Commit to taking breaks throughout the day. A five minute sit down away from your computer can help your mind gracefully switch gears to your next task.
Plan some time off just for you, and do that regularly.
Have 15 minutes? Give it a try!
What is something about your work that has been irking you? Yes, it can be petty. That is probably a great spot to start practicing. Set a 15-minute timer and follow the boundary setting framework. Schedule anything that needs more time, or add it to your to-do list.
Drop me a line and let me know what kind of boundary you put in place for yourself!
The Practice
Pay attention when something doesn’t feel aligned, then take time to consider the boundary framework.
Keep it Simple.
This can be uncomfortable. Your needs are worth it. Keep trying.
Consider if the root cause of a boundary issue is something more deep-seated, like shame, comparing yourself to others, or feeling unworthy. Honestly, mental health therapy is the tool that most helped me deal with these feelings and ultimately find better boundaries for myself.
Setting boundaries can be an art. Here are some more resources if you’re curious to learn more.
-Avoiding the Doormat Effect: How Givers Set Boundaries Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL8CsfJiKH4 (3:25)
-When Work Takes Over Your Life, WorkLife Podcast YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suu6pgqB5-8 (37:39)
-How to set boundaries with therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab, Rethinking Podcast YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k37RRTzhUI (37:12)
-I Set These Boundaries, and My Life Transformed – Yours Can Too, Goal Digger podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukUkiEFAqRE
This information just scratches the surface. If you’re ready to dive deeper, let’s talk! I help people develop personalized boundary-setting strategies that stick. Whether you're struggling with overwhelm, looking to reclaim your time, or aiming to boost your effectiveness at work, we can work together to create lasting change. Contact me!
