As we are entering further into the year, we must take a look around us to see if we have the boundaries that we need for our lives put in place. Boundaries are limits, simple limits put in place to prevent us for going overboard. Also boundaries can be limits that are in place so that others do not interfere with them. Here are 10 boundaries that you should put in place right now to help you lead a more healthy and productive life.

Schedule

Your schedule is very important. Dr. Henry Cloud, an expert on boundaries, states that when you look at your calendar, you are looking at how you want your life to be. If you want your life to be different, perhaps you should take a look at your calendar. You should put boundaries on your calendar. When would you like to make yourself available to others? Are you a morning person, or a night owl? These types of considerations should go into your calendar. When you figure out what your boundaries are with your calendar, make precautions within your calendar, whether it is digital or paper to ensure that the boundaries are met.

Phone Calls

So some of us as leaders have our calendars filled with nothing but phone calls. Sometimes this can be pretty overwhelming as we can be on the phone call day without any substantial work to show for it at the end of the day. So although you are blocking your schedule for when you not you an work, make sure that you are also making provisions for when you can and cannot be on the phone. Create blocks of time where phone calls are appropriate.

Sleeping

Are you a sleepless leader? Well, if so, you need to make a plan for getting more sleep in your life. You should be getting at minimum of 6 hours of sleep per day, so if you aren’t, you are really robbing Peter to pay Paul as they say. Know that when you get the sleep you need, you will be a better and more refreshed leader. You will be more creative and more productive with your time, thus saving you time. Place a boundary around your sleep and ensure that you get your minimum sleep each day no matter way.

Exercise

Are you getting the exercise that you need? There are so many rules of thumb about exercise, but I’ll say that 20-30 minutes a day can go a long way to make sure that you feel good, and are maintaining your health. Even though that might seen like a very low amount and certainly doable, you would be amazed at how many of us aren’t able to obtain that amount of exercise for day. Set boundaries or limits in your morning or afternoon to accommodate your exercise needs.

Your Weakness

Yes, everyone has weaknesses. So now is your opportunity to get real with yourself. Good at sales but not at ops? Do you struggle with reconciling your projects? Are you always late? Procrastinate much? These are examples of types weaknesses that plague leaders. The goal is to figure out what your weaknesses are and place a boundary over them. These boundaries are like little protections for you to not struggle too much and provide you with more support. So if you are good at sales and not at ops, find way to minimize that negative impact and protect your team from your weakness.

Travel

In the event planning world, many planners have a lot of traveling that they have to do when they are managing events. Although travel can be exiting and exhilarating, it can also be tiring and isolating. On one hand, you can go to exciting places and be apart of amazing experiences. As a mom, I personally know how my traveling can impact the family dynamic. So placing boundaries around your travel and sticking to them would go along way in creating the best life for yourself.

Whitespace

Do you make time to do absolutely nothing? I know some of you may be cringing at this notion! Do you know that spending time doing nothing can make you more creative? Can make you think of those record-breaking ideas? Everyone needs a little whitespace in their lives. Here’s a secret, it can be hard to just “take” the time you need, so you will need to schedule your whitespace. If you don’t have whitespace in your calendar or a little time set aside to do this, go ahead and get it done. You’ll be glad that you did.

Personal Time

Just like you did with whitespace, you have to do the same with free time. Schedule some free time to do the things that you like to do. Yes, I know that we all like to work and can be workaholics, but I’m not meaning work! Working is not personal time. Take time to play your instrument that you haven’t picked up in years, or just take a walk or play a game that you enjoy. These little moments help build up satisfaction and joyfulness in your life. And sometimes you just plainly need to set up a boundary to get this done. Everyone deserves a little bit of pleasure right?

Relationships

Well this is the bucket that has all of your relationships in it. Your significant other, your children, your parents, your besties. We all have relationships that matter. And although these relationships matter, we typically do not spend as much time as we need with those that matter. Why? Well because we deep down believe that no matter what they will always be there. On one hand, that is true. Your family and friends are most likely to have your back no matter what. However, all of our precious time in this life is limited, and you don’t want to be in a situation where we missed opportunities to spend quality time with those that are special to us. Make the time, create the boundary to do so.

Emotions

This might sound like I’m off my ticker, but you also need boundaries around your emotions? Every decision, every situation that we are in, it is our first instinct to rely on our emotions to lead us. However, that isn’t always the best reaction in any given situation. Many situations rely not only on emotion, but on our logical judgement and creative areas of our brain as well. So having good boundaries on how we respond and react can be very helpful to us in many areas of our lives.

Bottom line? The bottom line is that we have some control in every element in our lives. Of course, there are things out of our control, but there are always some actions and boundaries that we can put in place in order to ensure that the most important areas of our lives are meaningful and full of joy.

I would love to hear about the boundaries that you have set for yourself and how they have worked out for you!