For most professionals, the end-of-year festive season brings both joy and stress—especially at work. One of the main sources of this pressure is unclear boundaries between personal and professional life, as well as the feeling that one must be “always available,” even during time off.
According to a survey by the global corporate mental health company Modern Health, 57% of professionals feel compelled to check their work emails during holidays, and the same percentage say their employers do not recognize the emotional and financial strain typical of this time of year. “It should be a period of recovery, but for many professionals it has turned into a perfect storm of financial worry, pressure at work and within the family, and emotional overload,” says Jessica Watrous, clinical director at Modern Health. “Even small gestures of flexibility and understanding from companies can help ensure everyone feels supported at the end of the year.”
Seven tips for setting work boundaries at the end of the year
- Start the conversation early
When it comes to setting boundaries at work, timing is crucial. Talk to your manager as early as possible, giving them enough time to organize and make adjustments if any urgent demands arise. Communicating in advance shows professionalism and consideration for the company’s needs.
Practical action:
Schedule a 15-minute meeting with your manager to discuss your rest or vacation plans. During the conversation—or in a follow-up email—clearly state the dates you will be away and your level of availability during that period.
- Be clear and specific about your availability
Vague boundaries simply don’t work. Instead of saying you will be “mostly unavailable,” provide concrete details. For example, say that you will check email once a day at 9 a.m., only for emergencies. Or state that you will be completely offline and that another team member will handle urgent matters.
It is also important to define what actually constitutes an emergency that justifies interrupting your time off. Setting these parameters in advance prevents unnecessary interruptions and helps your manager understand when contact is truly warranted.
Practical action:
Write down your exact availability, including specific times for any check-ins and a clear definition of what is considered an emergency. Share this document with your manager and confirm that they understand it.
- Prepare transition documentation
One of the best ways to reduce work requests during the end of the year is to prepare your team so that everything continues to run smoothly in your absence. Create a detailed document with information on ongoing projects, key contacts, and potential issues that may arise. Include status updates and next steps for each active initiative. Share this material with your manager and relevant colleagues in advance. When leadership knows operations will continue normally without you, the likelihood of interruptions decreases.
Practical action:
Create a complete transition document with the status of all active projects, important contacts, potential points of attention, and clear next steps. Share it with your manager and team at least one week before you leave.
- Propose a contingency plan
Anticipate your manager’s concerns by suggesting who can take over your responsibilities during your absence. Identify colleagues who are familiar with your work and can provide support if needed. Introduce these contacts to key stakeholders before you leave and make sure they have access to the necessary information and systems. This approach shows that you have thought about business continuity without giving up your boundaries.
Practical action:
Identify at least one colleague who can temporarily take over your duties and explain what they can expect during your absence. Introduce this person to anyone who may need support during that period, making it clear who should be contacted.
- Frame rest as a professional benefit, not a personal favor
Avoid presenting the conversation as a personal need or a privilege. Studies show that adequate rest improves creativity, decision-making, and professional performance. Research conducted with professionals in the United Kingdom and the United States, published in the academic journal BMC Psychology, found that better sleep quality is directly associated with greater engagement and creative output. You can mention that fully disconnecting allows you to return more rested and productive, benefiting both the team and the company.
Practical action:
When discussing your boundaries, share a concrete example of how proper rest has improved your performance in the past. Frame rest as an investment in your ability to contribute at a high level when you return.
- Set up automatic out-of-office messages
Technology should reinforce your boundaries. Set up detailed automatic replies indicating your return date, who should be contacted in case of urgency, and when you will respond to non-urgent requests. If there is an agreement on limited availability, specify times and contact methods.
Consider creating email filters to organize messages into folders that can be reviewed after your return. Some professionals choose to disable notifications or even remove work apps from their phones during the holidays. Choose the strategy that works best for you.
Practical action:
Twenty-four hours before leaving, set up your out-of-office message, create specific email folders (client requests, internal updates, informational messages) with automatic filters, and remove work email and messaging apps from your phone.
- Be consistent and follow through
The most important step is to respect the boundaries you set yourself. If you said you would not check emails, don’t do it. Inconsistency teaches managers and colleagues to ignore your boundaries, because they know you will eventually give in. When you return to work, avoid apologizing for being unavailable or offering excessive explanations. A simple “I enjoyed my time off and I’m ready to get back to work” is enough. Treating your boundaries as normal and reasonable helps solidify them as the standard for future absences.
Practical action:
Write down your boundaries and share them with a trusted colleague or friend who can help hold you accountable. When you return, avoid apologizing for your unavailability and focus on being present and productive.
Source: Forbes Brasil
