CHICAGO — A growing demand for work/life balance across all industries has been a hot topic in recent years, especially in the post-pandemic landscape where more flexibility was extended to workers.
Perhaps the most “demanding” group in today’s workforce when it comes to work/life balance is the Gen Z and Millennial cohort. According to the Deloitte Global 2025 Genz Z and Millennial Survey, Gen Zs are more focused on work/life balance than they are at reaching a leadership position but learning and development remain a top priority for this generation. Furthermore, when these groups were asked about their career goals and the factors that cause them to change careers/employers, the answers were grouped into three areas: money, well-being and meaning.
Along with early-career professionals, setting boundaries and maintaining a work/life balance is especially important for remote workers, who may struggle with separating their work life from their home life without a traditional office setting, regardless of their generation.
That’s why Trade Show Executive (TSE) put together a guide for setting boundaries in the workplace, and spoke with some past TSE Women to Watch and Trailblazers to hear their first-hand accounts of how setting boundaries helped them find balance and excel in their roles.
1. Determine Your Personal and Professional Priorities
Before you can set effective boundaries that help you stay focused and balanced, you need to determine what your personal and professional priorities are. According to a career guide from Indeed, “Understanding your priorities helps you decide which boundaries to set and which aspects you’re willing to compromise on.”
2. Understand Your Industry Culture
Another aspect of setting boundaries in the workplace is understanding what the cultural norms are in your industry and organization. An article in Forbes said that if you’re in high-demand jobs where people are expected to work late and on the weekends, setting a boundary where you’re not answering after-hours calls might not make sense, and can end up putting you in the “hot seat.”
“Working in the trade show business, we only get a few chances a year to show up for our communities, so long hours are a given as we get closer to the event. But every day doesn’t have to look that way,” said Sarah Wilson, Vice President of the Program Management Office at Emerald. “I used to take every meeting and respond immediately to every message, which pushed me to work late into the evenings. Now, I’m more intentional about structuring my day so I can still meet deadlines and keep family commitments, but I’m still flexible when someone needs to squeeze in a meeting. That balance has made a huge difference in my productivity and well-being.”
3. Communication Comes First
Unsurprisingly, one of the best first steps you can take to setting boundaries at work is to communicate clearly about your expectations and what you’re comfortable with. This can start with setting working hours on your calendar and including them in your email signature.
“Learn how to say no — the right way. Too often, I would take on new projects, both inside and outside of the workplace, knowing that I was already at my breaking point, but driven by the fear of failure and thinking I was admitting defeat if I didn’t do it all,” said Tim Payne, Operations Manager at CloserStill Media. “In actuality, it was the opposite. By saying yes to everything, I put myself in a no-win situation.”
4. Leverage Technology Effectively
Using a scheduler tool to block out time in your own calendar is an effective way to ensure you’re not trying to stretch yourself too thin and able to get both deep work and personal tasks taken care of without disruption.
“One example [of setting boundaries] that comes to mind is when I began blocking time on my calendar specifically to get work done,” said Wilson. “Since I’m on the West Coast, I also block certain mornings, so my team knows I’m unavailable while taking my kids to school, or if there’s a school event.”
AI is another tool that can be leveraged to help you achieve better productivity, and give you time back into your day. According to the Deloitte Global 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, 77% of Gen Zs and 79% of Millennials say using GenAI at work has helped to free up their time and improve their work/life balance.
And, don’t be afraid to put that “out of office” message on when you are outside of your working hours or taking time off.
5. Respect Others’ Boundaries
It’s one thing to set boundaries for yourself, it’s another to also respect those set by colleagues. Make sure your team understands each other’s expectations and workloads to ensure the workplace is productive and respectful.
6. Don’t Be Afraid to Get Support
When you’re feeling yourself become overwhelmed or burnt out, communicate the need for support to your manager or colleagues. Not only will this help you get the support you need, but it also communicates what you’re able to handle on your own and can help with future delegation of responsibility.
“When I hit a breaking point, I thought I needed to make a drastic change,” Payne said. “But, it was much more subtle than that. I kept saying yes and started adding ‘but.’ When taking on new projects, I started saying, ‘Yes, but I’ll get it to you in three weeks,’ instead of trying to shoehorn it into my current schedule. ‘Yes, but I’ll need help.’ ‘Yes, but I don’t currently have the resources needed.
“Being honest about my stress levels and overall workload has not only helped me, but also those around me. Setting realistic expectations about what’s needed to accomplish a goal has allowed me and my team to dedicate the proper time, energy and resources to do things the right way and within the timeframe established, with as little stress as possible.”
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