Healthy boundaries may be contributing to our mental health crisis at work

By Sandra Oliver, Impact Founder

I’ve been noticing something at work that many leaders quietly talk about: Work feels more … transactional.

People are more protective of their time. They’re less likely to socialize after work. And when new responsibilities appear, the first question is often: “What comes off my plate?” or “Does this come with more compensation?”

Mentoring, learning, building culture, and bonding with our teams can feel like “extras”. And for a while I wondered: Are employees simply less engaged with work?

But the more I read about it  – and the more professionals I talk with – the more I think that’s the wrong question.

Setting clear boundaries is healthy, but comes with trade-offs

What we’re really seeing is a new psychological contract pioneered by younger professionals, many of whom entered the workforce during:

• COVID
• economic uncertainty  
• lots of layoffs
• constant digital connectivity  
• rising burnout  
• a much stronger focus on mental health

So they approach work differently. They set clearer boundaries, which is healthy in many ways:

Helps protect against overwork and stress.

Especially during uncertain times and periods of layoffs, there’s an instinct to work harder to prove our worth, which can quickly become unsustainable. Clear boundaries help prevent chronic overextension, allowing us to maintain our energy, focus, and consistency, rather than burning out.

Enables sustainable performance over the long term.

Continuously extending our work hours, and being continuously available through email, text, and chat, reduces productivity over time. Boundaries ensure we can recharge, think clearly, and deliver higher-quality work consistently and for longer.

Reinforces a culture that prioritizes mental health.

As our organizations place greater emphasis on wellbeing, boundaries become a tangible way to live those values. When we model healthy limits, we demonstrate that it’s acceptable – and expected – to take care of our mental health, which can improve engagement, morale, and retention.

Reduces ambiguity.

Unspoken expectations can create anxiety, and boundaries can be a way for us to counteract that and increase focus on what matters most. It also encourages proactive, intentional responses, rather than reactive busyness so we can be more productive.

But there are also real trade-offs. Hybrid work and stronger boundaries can:

Weaken the informal relationships that create opportunities for mentoring and community.

Strict work boundaries can limit the informal moments, like quick chats, impromptu advice, meeting debriefs, and going for drinks or coffee with coworkers, where mentoring and relationship building naturally happens. Having fewer shared experiences that contribute to a team identity can mean strong, trusted relationships take longer to nurture. And we miss out on the joy those relationships and friendships can add to our days – and, in fact, our whole careers.

Restrict the unstructured conversations, cross-team interactions, off-the-cuff brainstorming, and creative thinking that often fuel innovation.

There’s less chance for exchanging ideas spontaneously. Interacting and learning from people with different experience or knowledge. Benefiting from the exploratory thinking that can happen on a walk down the hall or gathering in the lunchroom with colleagues. We end up prioritizing efficiency and focus so much, we can lose out on the innovation that sparks from creativity and discovery.

Limit growth and reduce enjoyment.

When we don’t take on the extra projects that can stretch us, we stifle our growth. Because we grow from these challenges: the opportunity to ask questions and be mentored. Try something we’ve never done before – and maybe even don’t think we can do – and then succeed and revel in the accomplishment. And when the work is a team effort, we have fun, build our sense of belonging, and create friendships that can last a lifetime.

How do we build meaningful work and respect boundaries?

So maybe the challenge for leaders isn’t to recreate the workplace culture that existed pre-COVID. The challenge is something harder: How do we build meaningful work and real community, while still respecting healthy boundaries? How can we combine the benefits of both worlds to create a workplace where everyone can flourish?

I’d especially love to hear from people early in their careers: What makes work engaging for you today?

Impact can help

Impact can help. Our coaches can work with your multigenerational teams to build greater understanding, stronger relationships, and a more vibrant culture. Contact us.