Boundary: A Word That Enriches Us

Let me share a quick story. Recently, I decided to swap my usual day off from Wednesdays to Fridays. Wednesdays had been a great midweek break for a while, but I found myself struggling to fully switch off from work, not because of any work pressures, but because of me.

My workplace, my manager and my team are all incredibly supportive and deeply respect people’s days off and their right to disconnect, so this wasn’t about them. It was about my own boundaries. I wondered, would having Fridays off help me disconnect and recharge better?

I submitted a new flexible work arrangement, and it was approved without hesitation. But after filling out the form, I kept thinking about the word I used to describe my reason: "balance."

Is balance really what I’m looking for? Or am I looking for something more—something like better "integration"?
The kind of boundary that enables a richer, more seamless integration of life and work.

When we hear the word “boundary,” it often comes with negative connotations: a limit, a separation, a dividing line. But what if we flipped that perspective? What if boundaries are actually opportunities? Opportunities for enrichment?

In my case, I wasn’t seeking separation from work. I love my job! What I was really seeking was a way to enrich my personal life, creating space for deeper fulfillment and more time for things I love.

Boundaries can serve as enrichment lines in many areas of our lives:

- When we set boundaries in unhealthy relationships, we open up space for meaningful ones—the ones that truly fill our cup.

- When we set boundaries around unhealthy food choices, we create opportunities to discover and enjoy foods that nurture our well-being.

There are so many other areas/examples. So, I would like to challenge you to rethink your boundaries when you set them.

Don’t see them as dividing lines, but as enrichment lines. Lines that create freedom and space for the things you love and the person you want to be.