Introduction to boundary management

Boundary management is the practice of setting limits between work and personal life. In medicine, where long shifts, on-call hours, and unpredictable rosters are common, boundary management helps medical professionals protect their personal time, reduce burnout, and maintain well-being.
 

Why boundary management is essential

1. Work-life balance: Establishing clear boundaries helps medical staff dedicate time to family, rest, and recovery, which are critical for sustainable performance in high-stress roles.
    
2. Mental health: Constant work connectivity increases cognitive load and contributes to exhaustion. Setting boundaries allows medical professionals to detach, reducing stress and improving resilience.
    
3. Quality of care: Balanced professionals bring more focus, patience, and empathy to their roles, enhancing patient care.

Challenges in boundary management post-COVID

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly blurred the lines between work and personal life, especially for medical professionals. Remote work capabilities quickly expanded, enabling constant access to work databases, applications, and systems like EMRs. Telemedicine’s rapid adoption created an expectation of around-the-clock availability, further complicating boundary management.

Today, many doctors rely on personal devices to handle work tasks, from checking emails and participating in calls to accessing clinical apps and messaging colleagues. This constant connectivity makes it difficult to "switch off" fully, as the boundary between professional responsibilities and personal time becomes increasingly permeable. This shift can increase stress, reduce rest time, and disrupt work-life balance, making effective boundary management more crucial than ever.
 

Practical steps for boundary management

1. Digital boundaries: Limit work-related notifications on personal devices outside work hours, and if possible, disable notifications for non-essential apps. This helps reduce the temptation to check messages or emails during personal time.
    
2. Scheduled detachment: Dedicate at least one day a week to be completely offline and disconnected from work. Use this time to recharge, with your phone turned off or placed in another room to support undisturbed rest.
    
3. Use separate work and personal devices: When feasible, keep work on a dedicated device to minimise access during personal time. This physical separation makes it easier to "switch off" after hours.
    
4. Availability control: Clearly communicate your work availability to colleagues. Use autoreplies during off-hours and only respond to genuinely urgent requests. This practice helps you maintain boundaries while ensuring important matters are addressed.
    
5. Set defined start and end times: Where possible and when you are not on call try to set clearly defined work hours, with a firm start and end time, and a commitment to finishing a couple of times a week on time. Consider adding a hard boundary activity, such as a personal training session, dinner date with family, or a social event, once or twice a week to reinforce this habit.
   
   In saying this we recognise that for junior medical staff and trainees, as well as for specialists in craft groups where a 24/7 roster is part of the role this can be difficult when your roster changes monthly and you have a non-standard work week as the norm. In this instance we encourage you to apply the same principles above when you get your roster, mapping out your week and planning a couple of hard boundary activities weekly to support you to enforce boundary management.
    
6. Self-audit: Regularly assess your boundary management habits using a self-audit tool. Reflect on areas where boundaries could be stronger and set small goals for improvement.
    
7. Plan for transition time: Allow yourself a few minutes at the end of the workday to wrap up and mentally transition out of work mode. Potentially a brief walk, or some breathing exercises can create a sense of closure and help signal the end of the workday.
   
   Be sure to log off work devices and work applications and if you are commuting its good practice to create some space just for you on this journey home to transition into your non-work mode by reading a book, listening to music, listening to a podcast or audio book, sitting in silence - whatever helps you reset and tune off from work.

Boundary management, though challenging, is essential for medical professionals, particularly in the post-COVID landscape. Small, deliberate steps can ensure a healthier balance and more effective care for those they serve.

If you want to quickly assess the current state of your boundary management habits, complete this quick self-audit:

Boundary management self-audit for medical professionals

This self-audit is designed to help medical professionals assess their boundary management between work and personal life. Each question focuses on behaviours and habits around managing technology, availability, and personal time. Reflect on each statement and mark how frequently it applies to you.

Boundary management self-audit quiz

Rate each statement on a scale of 1-5:

• 1 = Never
• 2 = Rarely
• 3 = Sometimes
• 4 = Often
• 5 = Always

1. Technology boundaries

• I turn off or silence work notifications on my personal device outside work hours.
• I avoid checking work emails or messages on personal time unless it is essential.
• I limit my participation in work-related group chats (e.g., WhatsApp, Teams) after hours.
• I refrain from using my personal device for work-related tasks during family or personal activities.

2. Time boundaries

• I regularly leave work on time at least twice a week.
• I avoid scheduling non-urgent tasks during my off-hours.
• I allocate specific hours during the week for family or personal time and stick to them.
• I respect my own off-duty hours and communicate them to colleagues.

3. Availability boundaries

• I manage my availability by letting colleagues know when I am off duty.
• I set autoreplies on work email and messaging apps outside of my work hours.
• I allow myself to be fully offline (not accessible to work) for a minimum of one day a week.
• I have strategies to leave conversations when I need to without feeling guilty.

4. Recovery and rest habits

• I prioritise recovery time by detaching fully from work at least one day per week.
• I take regular breaks to recharge during long shifts or on-call periods.
• I avoid overcommitting to extra shifts or tasks that reduce my rest time.
• I communicate with colleagues about my need for personal time to recharge.

5. Feedback from family and friends

• My family, partner, or friends feel I am fully present and attentive when we are spending time together.
• My loved ones rarely observe me checking work messages or emails during our personal time.
• My children, partner, or friends recognise and appreciate my efforts to disconnect from work when I am with them.
• I actively listen and engage with my family and friends, making them feel valued and respected when we are together.

Scoring and reflection

Add up your score for each section. Higher scores indicate stronger boundary management in that area, while lower scores suggest areas for improvement.

• 16-20: Strong boundary management – Continue these practices!
• 10-15: Moderate boundary management – Identify areas for improvement and set small goals.
• 5-9: Weak boundary management – Reflect on what adjustments would help improve your work-life boundaries.

Next steps for improvement

1. Prioritise boundaries: Identify two boundary areas you want to strengthen and set small, achievable goals.
2. Communicate needs: Share your boundaries with colleagues and loved ones to foster a supportive environment.
3. Practice detachment: Experiment with being offline for specific periods each week to improve rest and recovery.
4. Seek feedback: Regularly check in with family and friends about how present and available you are, using their feedback to guide further improvements.

If managing boundaries is something you find particularly challenging you may want to chat with one of our coaches about how coaching can support you to set and manage boundaries more effectively.

Book a career call or see our performance resources here.