Thriving as a Young Professional: The Importance of Setting Boundaries at Work

Series 03 Blog 02 – Indranil

The content of this blog is now available as a podcast too. If you are an auditory consumer of wisdom, listen to this scintillating exchange below:

Hi there!

In our last blog, we unpacked how burnout can creep into your first job experience. One of the biggest weapons against it? Setting clear, kind boundaries. Let’s dive deeper into how you can make that your career superpower.

So… you survived the initial chaos, maybe even started feeling a bit more settled in your role. But does your phone buzz with work pings long after you’ve logged off? Do you find yourself saying "yes" to every task, even when your plate is overflowing? Is "just one more email" turning into your nightly routine?

If nodding along feels familiar, you're not alone. In the previous blog, we talked about avoiding burnout. A huge part of that battle is mastering the art of setting boundaries. It sounds simple, maybe even a bit 'corporate-speak', but trust me, it's the secret sauce to not just surviving, but thriving in your career long-term.

Let’s break down why drawing lines is crucial, and how you can actually do it without feeling guilty or worrying about being seen as lazy.

Why Boundaries Aren't Just Nice-to-Have, They're NEED-to-Have

Think of your energy and focus like your phone battery. You wouldn't expect it to run 24/7 without recharging, right? Boundaries are your personal charging cables and power banks. Without them:

• You Dilute Your Impact: Trying to do everything means you often don't do your most important work well. Quality suffers when you're spread too thin.

• Resentment Brews: Constantly saying "yes" when you want to say "no" leads to frustration – towards your colleagues, your boss, and even your job.

• Burnout calls (again!): As we discussed, constantly being "on" is a fast track to exhaustion, cynicism, and feeling ineffective – the core ingredients of burnout.

• You Teach People How to Treat You: If you're always available and always say yes, people will naturally expect that. Setting boundaries resets those expectations.

Working hard is respected, but working smart includes protecting your time and energy.

I remember in my early years at work, I wanted to impress everyone. I said yes to absolutely everything – helping seniors with their presentations, taking on extra work, staying back just because others were. Soon, I was constantly exhausted, making silly mistakes in my own core work, and I even missed many personal engagements (for e.g., my very close cousin's engagement) because of last-minute 'urgent' tasks that, frankly, on hindsight, could have waited. When I realized the futility of those sacrifices, it was a wake-up call that 'being helpful' without limits was actually hurting my performance and my personal life.

The "Log Kya Kahenge?" Factor: Boundaries in the Indian Workplace

Let's be real: Setting boundaries can feel extra tricky here. We're often conditioned to please elders/seniors, avoid saying "no" directly, and equate long hours with dedication. The "adjust karo" mentality is strong. Saying "I can't right now" might feel like you're not a team player or lack commitment.

But true dedication means bringing your best self to work consistently, which is impossible if you're running on empty. It's about finding respectful ways to communicate your limits. Remember, setting boundaries isn't about confrontation; it's about clarity.

Okay, So How Do I Actually Do This? Practical Steps:

Setting boundaries is a skill; and like any skill, it takes practice. Here are some areas to focus on:

1. Your Time

   
   

   The Challenge: Late-night calls, weekend work requests, meetings eating up your entire day.

   
   

   How to Set It: 

   
   

   • Define Your Hours: Mentally (or actually, on your calendar/status), define your core working hours. Try to stick to them.

   • Manage Notifications: Mute work chats/emails after hours. You don't need to respond instantly unless it's a genuine, pre-agreed emergency.

   • Communicate Availability: If someone asks for something late, try: "Got it. I'll tackle this first thing tomorrow morning when I can give it proper focus." (This shows commitment AND respect for your time).

   • Protect Your Breaks: Take that lunch break away from your desk!

There was this period in my professional career where project pings would extend beyond office chat apps to WhatsApp and would continue till 10-11 PM. I felt obligated to reply instantly. Finally, I mustered the courage to put a status update saying 'Available on chat till 7 PM. For urgent issues post that, please call'.

The first few days felt weird, like I was slacking. But guess what? The world didn't end. The non-urgent messages waited till the morning, and the truly urgent things became phone calls, which were rare. I actually started sleeping better and felt more focused the next day because my evenings were truly mine.

2. Your Workload

   
   

   The Challenge: Saying "yes" to too many projects, unrealistic deadlines.

   
   

   How to Set It:

   • Understand Your Capacity: Before accepting a new task, quickly assess your current workload.

   • Ask for Priorities: If given multiple 'urgent' tasks, ask: "To ensure I deliver quality work, could you help me prioritize which of these needs to be completed first?" (This frames it collaboratively).

   • Negotiate Deadlines: If a deadline seems impossible, say: "Given my current commitments on X and Y, I can realistically complete this by [Suggest realistic date/time]. Would that work?"

   • [MOST IMPORTANT] Learn the Art of the "Soft No" or "Yes, And": Instead of a flat "no," try: "I can't take that on right now because I'm focused on delivering [Project A] by its deadline. However, I could potentially help starting [Date]?"

3. Your Communication

   
   

   The Challenge: Constant interruptions, unclear communication channels (WhatsApp vs. Email vs. Calls).

   
   

   How to Set It:

   • Schedule Focused Work Time: Block time in your calendar for deep work and try to minimize distractions during those blocks.

   • Set Communication Preferences: Gently guide people: "Could you email me the details for this so I have all the information in one place?" or "A quick call might be faster to resolve this than back-and-forth messages."

   • [MOST IMPORTANT] Respond, Don't React: You don't need to answer every message the second it arrives. Batch responses if possible.

4. Boundary Type: Your Emotional Energy

   
   

   The Challenge: Absorbing workplace negativity, office gossip, feeling pressured to always be cheerful.

   
   

   How to Set It:

   • Limit Exposure to Negativity: Politely steer clear of constant complaining or gossip sessions.

   • [VERY IMPORTANT] It's Okay to Not Be Okay: You don't have to pretend everything is perfect. It's okay to have an off day (just maintain professionalism).

   • [MOST IMPORTANT] Find Your Reset Button: Remember those reset strategies from the last blog? Use them! Step away when needed.

Handling Pushbacks and Guilt

Sometimes, people might push back when you set a boundary. Stay calm and polite and reiterate your position clearly. For example, learn to say: "I understand this is urgent; and as mentioned, I'll focus on it first thing tomorrow." Don't over-explain or apologize profusely for protecting your time. Feeling guilty initially is normal but remember that boundaries benefit everyone in the long run by preventing mistakes and burnout.

The first time I told my manager I couldn't take on another 'small' project because my plate was genuinely full with high-priority tasks, my heart was pounding! I felt incredibly guilty, thinking I'd be seen as uncooperative. She looked surprised for a moment, then simply asked, 'Okay, when do you estimate you'll have bandwidth?'. We had a practical conversation about timelines instead of me just silently accepting and stressing out. It taught me that being honest about my capacity was actually more professional than over-promising and under-delivering."

Your Boundary Check-Up:

Quick reality check. Ask yourself:

• In the past week, how many times did I work significantly beyond my planned hours?

• Did I take on a task I knew I didn't have the bandwidth for?

• Did I manage to take proper breaks away from my work?

• Do I feel drained by workplace interactions (beyond normal tiredness)?

Be honest! This isn't about judgment, it's about awareness.

Your Weekly Thrive Challenge: Pick One Thing and Commit

• Turn off email/chat notifications for 1 hour after your official work end time.

• Decline one non-essential meeting invitation and use the time for focused work.

• When asked to do a non-urgent task late in the day, practice saying you'll do it tomorrow.

• Take a full 30-minute lunch break completely away from your workspace.

Pick one. Stick to it for the week. See how it feels.

Final Thoughts: Boundaries are Your Career Superpower

Setting boundaries isn't about building walls; it's about building a sustainable and fulfilling career. It's a sign of self-respect and professionalism. It allows you to bring your best, most focused, and most creative self to your work consistently.

You’re playing the long game here. Don't let the pressure to be "always on" dim your potential. Define your boundaries, communicate them clearly, and protect your energy fiercely. Your future self will thank you.

You've got this!