“I’m not working from home, I’m sleeping at the office!” someone in the team I was coaching recently exclaimed.

This is a sentiment many of us can identify with as remote working has blurred the boundaries between home and work life. Our colleagues are online at all sorts of odd times as they flex to fit in competing demands of life and work. It feels as if we must always be available to meet them whenever they need us. No longer does the exodus of employees from our office building give us permission to also stop working and head home or at least remind us that we should turn our attention to the other important things in our life. Instead, we need to set these boundaries for ourselves.

“Easier said than done!” you yell.

I agree, so here are some tips to get you started:

1. Consciously decide to set appropriate boundaries. Intention precedes action.
2. Reflect and name the value of the things you want to stop Working for and start Living for.
3. Choose a symbolic act that serves to mark the shift from Work to Life and back again e.g. shut down your laptop instead of letting it sleep; turn your work lamp on to start the day and off to finish it; send a daily “stop working” alert to a colleague.
4. Invite support to hold you to this practice.

Talking to friends and family I hear 2 groups of experience as COVID-19 continues its relentless march of uncertainty and isolation.  Those stuck at home without work and those slaving over too much work.  The former are struggling with motivation, purpose and identity.  Their wells of creativity and inspiration are rapidly drying up without tangible, connected stimulation from the outside world or being strangled by fear.  The latter are experiencing “always on” overwhelm, stress from continuous decision making and even some resentment. Their wells are being bled dry by constant activity.

So my question is: how might we all regain our energy, creativity and individual purpose amidst the current crisis but also beyond and outside of it?

My answer to myself: it’s time to set some boundaries that create mental, physical and emotional order and allow me to act with agency.

The 1^st boundary I am setting is dedicated time to be fully present; to fill my internal well with things that I find beautiful; to routinely reflect on what is going on for me right now and so learn and grow.  I made this clip to help me to this.  It is a montage of exquisite imagery & reflections from a recent trip to Chile.  I offer it to you hoping that it may help you to connect with yourself again.