Setting boundaries can feel like one of those big, unachievable hurdles because of all the complexities and parts involved, which means that many times, we just don’t even do it.
But this weekend I was reminded of one way that many of us actually DO set and hold boundaries, and it’s a great way to take a small step into the work:
The out-of-office message.
Think about it. Out-of-office message are the training wheels of boundary setting. You let an emailer know you’re away, not responding, when you’ll get back to them, and an alternative if they just can’t wait. And then, knowing that they know all this pertinent information and have options, you can choose (even though, let’s face it…sometimes we cheat) to simply not check your email until the designated time.
And by the way – even if you’re not in an “office”, you can utilize this method with your personal email to the same effect when you want to create a barrier between you and anyone who might be emailing you.
So if you’re wanting to start setting and holding boundaries, use this first easy step to start even today!
