Setting Boundaries and Time Management Techniques for Home Visitors

Editor’s note: This text-based course is an edited transcript of the webinar, Setting Boundaries and Time Management Techniques for Home Visitors, presented by Christine O'Brien, MS.

Learning Outcomes

After this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain why professional boundaries are important.
• Describe tips for applying healthy boundaries.
• List time management techniques.

Introduction

This course focuses on home visitors, aiming to equip them with skills to establish professional boundaries with families and master time management strategies. Our agenda for today entails examining boundary conflicts, their definition, and traits. We'll also discuss the zone of helpfulness, explore tips for setting healthy boundaries, and transition into time management and executive functioning. Additionally, we'll cover effective time management strategies, followed by scenario analyses.

Have you ever felt exploited, overwhelmed with work, or experienced a clash with your personal or cultural values? You've encountered an ethical or boundary conflict if you answered yes to any of these questions. Such conflicts are ubiquitous in our professional journeys, present and future. It's not a matter of if you'll experience them, but when. I'll present some potential conflicts for you to reflect on, considering if you've encountered similar situations and how you managed them.

Examples of Conflicts

Here are a few examples of conflicts that may arise when working with families. If a family invites you to a party, is it appropriate for you to attend? Suppose you supplement your income by selling candles at home parties, and a family offers to host one for you—do you accept?

Conflicts can also emerge within coworker dynamics or organizational structures. For instance, do you oblige if a coworker seeks your assistance due to falling behind on their work? What if this request becomes recurrent? Moreover, you may receive a work-related text from your supervisor late at night, only to be asked the next day why you didn't respond. How would you handle such a situation?

Similarly, conflicts can arise within personal relationships, like with friends or family. For instance, if you consistently buy drinks for a friend during your weekly coffee meetings without reciprocity, do you address it? Do you cease treating them? Another scenario involves planning your baby's first birthday party—a low-key affair according to your preference. However, your mother insists on an extravagant celebration. Do you assertively decline her suggestion? These examples underscore the importance of establishing clear boundaries to navigate potential conflicts effectively.

Boundaries

What are boundaries? Simply put, boundaries serve as clear lines, delineating where to stop. In relationships, boundaries define aspects such as our personhood, identity, and responsibility, establishing parameters that control our interactions, from where they begin to where they end in relation to others.

However, boundaries are not merely about categorizing behavior as inherently good or bad. Understanding and establishing boundaries is a nuanced process, one that requires effort. In personal and professional contexts, learning to set boundaries is crucial for achieving a healthy work-life balance.

When setting personal boundaries, the aim isn't to control others but rather to delineate what makes us comfortable and how we wish to be treated. This task can be challenging, as boundaries are shaped by both our actions and the boundaries set by others.

So, why are boundaries essential? By establishing personal and professional boundaries, we prioritize self-care. They enable us to articulate our needs, create space for positive interactions, and set healthy limits within relationships.

Boundaries can be characterized by various traits. Individuals who consistently maintain a distance from others, whether emotionally, physically, or otherwise, are described as having rigid boundaries. Conversely, those who become overly involved with others exhibit porous boundaries. Ultimately, striving for healthy boundaries is the goal.

Figure 1. Common traits of those with rigid, healthy, and porous boundaries.

Figure 1 shows some common traits associated with different boundary types, as shared by Berkeley. However, we will focus on healthy boundaries, representing where we aim to be. Some key traits include valuing one's own opinions, refusing to compromise values for others, and effectively communicating personal wants and needs.

Maintaining appropriate boundaries involves sharing personal information judiciously and respecting others' boundaries by accepting their refusal and feeling empowered to say no yourself.

It's common to exhibit a blend of different boundary types. For instance, an individual may have healthy boundaries at work, porous boundaries in romantic relationships, and a mixture of boundaries within their family dynamic. The appropriateness of boundaries varies depending on the context; how one interacts with their best friend differs from how they interact with their boss. Additionally, cultural norms play a significant role.

Cultural expectations surrounding boundaries differ across societies. For instance, in India and Japan, finishing all the food on your plate is considered a gesture of appreciation, signaling to the chef that you enjoyed the meal. Conversely, in China, this behavior is discouraged. Leaving some food on your plate is culturally appropriate as it signifies that you have eaten enough; otherwise, hosts might feel obliged to offer more food.

Zone of Helpfulness

Today, our focus is on professional boundaries, which delineate the invisible line between you as the home visitor and the families you serve. Maintaining these boundaries requires an understanding of the importance of remaining within the zone of helpfulness and the repercussions of crossing its limits.

Figure 2. Zone of Helpfulness.

The zone of helpfulness is depicted in Figure 2, tailored for professionals working with individuals and families, such as nurses, social workers, teachers, and home visitors. Positioned at the center of a spectrum of professional conduct, the zone of helpfulness embodies behaviors that facilitate decision-making, accountability, and personal growth for families. Within this zone, most interactions between home visitors and families should ideally occur to yield the most positive outcomes and foster strong relationships.

At one end of the spectrum lies under-involvement. Examples include distancing oneself from the family to avoid forming attachments, failing to adequately address the family's needs, or exhibiting apathy due to burnout. Conversely, over-involvement manifests when personal or intimate details are shared, family secrets are disclosed or kept, or the home visitor assumes the role of a "super" home visitor, taking on responsibilities that families should handle themselves or engaging in social activities with families outside of work.

The objective for home visitors is to remain within the zone of helpfulness. Within this zone, home visitors empower families by facilitating increased self-determination and social support. Empowering families enables them to gain a sense of power and control over their own lives. This process can be likened to raising children, which aims to foster accountability and support children in feeling in control of their lives. Similarly, home visitors aim to empower families through their interactions and support.

Empowering Behaviors

Let's delve into empowering behaviors and their significance within the zone of helpfulness as seen in Figure 3. Key terms associated with empowering behaviors include empowering, increasing, fostering, and allowing. These behaviors encourage families to make their own decisions and navigate their unique paths, equipping them with the necessary tools.

Figure 3. Empowering behaviors.

Conversely, employing ignoring behaviors places us outside the zone of helpfulness. Ignoring behaviors involves overlooking harmful patterns, failing to acknowledge the family's efforts to enhance their self-efficacy, disregarding their endeavors to learn and grow, and avoiding conflict and challenging situations.

Enabling Behaviors

Figure 4. Enabling behaviors.

Enabling behaviors, as seen in Figure 4, also lie beyond the boundaries of the zone of helpfulness. Enabling behaviors can be characterized by intentionality, diminishing, doing, and shielding. Enabling entails doing things for the family rather than with them, taking the lead, and exerting control instead of walking alongside them. Therefore, it's imperative to transition into the zone of helpfulness in such instances.

Rationalizations

Despite our best intentions, we may sometimes use rationalizations to justify our actions, a tendency common in both personal and professional spheres. For instance, everyday examples include rationalizing speeding because others do it or running a red light when the road seems clear. However, employing rationalizations in our professional endeavors serves as a red flag, signaling potential boundary violations.

Some common rationalizations encountered in professional settings include minimizing the severity of situations (It's really not that bad.), making excuses for oneself or the family (I didn't have enough time anyway.), shifting blame onto others (It happened because they don't want to help themselves.), drawing comparisons (What I did isn't as bad as what someone else did.), and explaining away problems with justifications like being too busy.

Understanding why it's challenging to maintain boundaries and why we may allow others to overstep them is crucial. Fear of rejection, the desire to help, feelings of guilt, habitual behaviors, lack of support, and external pressures are among the key factors contributing to this difficulty.

In summary, comprehending the reasons behind our struggles with boundary enforcement and setting is essential for effectively navigating professional relationships and maintaining healthy boundaries.

Tips for Healthy Boundaries

Now, let's explore some tips for maintaining healthy boundaries. Firstly, it's essential to understand your limits and values. Recognize what is acceptable to you and what isn't, and safeguard your values, which differ for everyone. Listen to your emotions, which are valuable indicators of your comfort level in various situations. Pay attention to what your feelings are trying to convey. Maintain self-respect. Are you prioritizing others over yourself? Respect for others is equally crucial. Consider what is equitable for all parties involved. When it comes to setting boundaries, assertiveness is key. Don't hesitate to clearly and respectfully communicate your boundaries when necessary. Additionally, consider the long view. While there may be days when you give more than you receive, or vice versa, a consistent imbalance in giving and taking could signify an underlying issue.

As a home visitor, you occupy a unique role wherein you aim to establish relationships with the families you work with. Entering their personal space, you may encounter situations that challenge your boundaries. In navigating these scenarios, asking yourself some critical questions is important.

1. Do I have a legal obligation?
2. What are my agency policies and expectations, and why are they in place?
3. Would I do this for every family?

Firstly, consider if you have a legal obligation. Are you obligated to report certain situations as a mandatory reporter? Familiarize yourself with your agency's protocols regarding reporting to the Department of Human Services, as adherence to these policies is crucial.

Agency policies also govern various aspects, such as transportation of families, acceptance of gifts, and social media usage. These policies serve to protect both the family and the employee.

Lastly, when pondering boundary lines, ask yourself: Would I extend the same action or decision to every family in similar circumstances? This question helps ensure consistency and fairness in your interactions.

We Need Support

When working with families, it's crucial to maintain honesty about actions taken and words spoken and to be forthcoming about the challenges faced by home visitors. It's important to talk about weaknesses and blind spots. Open dialogue regarding the stresses of daily decision-making is essential. When you experience discomfort or unease about something that occurred or was said, you must utilize supervision and consultation to address these concerns.

It's important to remember that everyone encounters similar situations, making it necessary to take the initiative and discuss them openly. So, who can support you? Your supervisor is a primary support figure. Additionally, your agency may have a mental health consultant available. Your peers or coworkers who share similar work experiences can offer valuable support. Furthermore, your agency may have leadership or human resources personnel you can confide in. Moreover, national models like Parents as Teachers often have state offices you can contact for assistance.

Reflective supervision is integral to ethical practice in the realm of home visiting. Establishing an honest and open dialogue in a safe environment is paramount. This space allows for discussions on sensitive topics and challenging situations. Therefore, it's essential to identify your support network and know who you can turn to in times of need.

Take a few moments to complete the following prompts. These will help you set boundaries for yourself.

• I am available for _________.
• I am unavailable for _________.
• The time for _________ is over.
• The time for _________ is now.

Along with setting boundaries with families, we also want to have effective time management strategies for our self-care and to work with families effectively.

Introduction to Time Management

Time perception varies from person to person, heavily relying on individual perception. Those with good time management tend to be more productive, exhibit higher energy levels for achieving their goals, and experience reduced stress. As home visitors, mastering time management is crucial given the multifaceted nature of the profession, involving tasks such as data collection, family visits, and scheduling. Hence, adopting efficient time management strategies is pivotal for success.

So, what steps can you take? The effectiveness of your time management strategy largely hinges on your executive functioning level.

Executive Function

Executive functioning refers to the cognitive processes responsible for tasks such as planning, goal-setting, self-control, and task management. It's a critical aspect of brain function that varies among individuals and requires regular maintenance. Think of it like a cup that needs replenishment through self-care practices like proper nutrition, hydration, adequate rest, and relaxation to avoid burnout.

Figure 5. Ways to work with your executive function.

Maintaining optimal executive functioning involves several key steps, as seen in Figure 5. Firstly, prioritize self-care by eating well, staying hydrated, and getting enough rest. Recognize your peak productivity times and plan your work accordingly. Additionally, be mindful of resetting your executive functioning response during stressful periods, focusing on rest and relaxation rather than fight-or-flight responses.

Furthermore, establish a structured schedule for your tasks to minimize the need for frequent task switching, which can drain cognitive resources. Finally, recognize the importance of taking breaks to allow your brain to recharge, promoting a "rest and digest" mode rather than constant activity. These practices are essential for sustaining effective executive functioning and managing the demands of your work effectively.

Time Management Strategies

Here are some strategies adapted from the University of Georgia extension to help with time management:

Create a Time Log

Start by tracking how you spend your time in 15-minute intervals for a week or two. This log will reveal where your time is going, which tasks consume the most time, and when you are most productive. While it may seem time-consuming to create the log initially, it provides valuable insights into your time usage, helping you identify priorities and areas for improvement.

To-Do Lists

To-do lists are a common tool for organizing tasks, but using them efficiently is essential. Prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency, focusing on completing high-priority items rather than simply checking off as many tasks as possible. Keep your to-do list manageable by including only tasks that can be realistically accomplished within a given timeframe, avoiding overwhelming yourself with large goals or complex plans. A prioritized to-do list allows you to set boundaries to say no to activities that could be interesting or provide a sense of achievement but do not fit your basic priorities.

Set Priorities

Distinguish between important tasks that align with your goals and urgent tasks that demand immediate attention, often driven by external pressures. While urgent tasks may seem pressing, it's crucial not to let them overshadow important activities that contribute to your long-term objectives. By prioritizing important tasks, you can maintain focus on activities that align with your priorities and goals.

Use a Planning Tool

Time management experts highly recommend using a planning tool to help organize tasks, schedules, and reminders. Whether it's a traditional planner, digital calendar, smartphone app, or even a wall chart, the goal is to offload tasks from your mind and allow you to focus on priorities. Some individuals may prefer tactile methods like index cards or pocket diaries, while auditory learners might opt to dictate their thoughts. The key is to find a planning tool that suits your preferences and use it consistently to stay organized and focused on your goals.

Schedule Appropriately

Effective scheduling goes beyond simply jotting down meetings and appointments for the day. It requires self-awareness, which can be cultivated through creating a time log. By understanding your peak productivity and alertness periods, you can strategically plan your most challenging tasks for those times. Prioritize these high-priority activities and allocate dedicated time slots for them, safeguarding them from interruptions.

For smaller tasks like drafting emails or reading work-related materials, reserve downtime slots such as when commuting or waiting for appointments. You can optimize your productivity and efficiency throughout the day by aligning your schedule with your energy levels and task priorities.

Build in Time for the Things You Want to Do

When crafting your schedule, it's crucial to reserve ample time for self-care and rejuvenation. Avoid the temptation to fill every waking hour with tasks and commitments. Instead, aim to allocate about three-fourths of your day for structured activities, leaving room for creativity, such as planning, dreaming, and thinking, as well as reflection and relaxation. Refraining from scheduling every minute of your day allows space for essential downtime, which is vital for replenishing your cognitive resources and maintaining overall well-being. Balancing productivity and self-care is key to sustaining long-term effectiveness and happiness.

Get Organized

Getting organized is paramount for effective time management, as research indicates that disorganization correlates with poor time management, and clutter has a strong negative impact on perceived well-being. Each person's organizational system will vary, but the goal remains the same: minimize clutter and maintain order.

Fortunately, modern technology offers many apps designed to enhance time management. These apps typically fall into several categories: time trackers, productivity boosters, task managers, and habit developers. Utilizing such tools can help you track your time usage, prioritize tasks, and cultivate healthy habits conducive to effective time management.

Email management is another critical aspect of efficient workflow. Establish an email organization system tailored to your needs to prevent emails from consuming excessive time. Consider setting specific times to check and respond to emails, utilizing folders and color-coding for organization, and adopting the "handle it once" approach to ensure prompt handling of incoming messages.

Integrating these strategies into your daily routine allows you to streamline your workflow, boost productivity, and reclaim valuable time for activities that matter most.

Delegating

Delegating tasks is a powerful time management strategy that involves assigning responsibilities to others, freeing up your time for tasks that demand your expertise. While many individuals are aware of delegation, they may hesitate to implement it for various reasons, such as a preference for maintaining control over tasks or concerns about the quality of delegated work.

However, effective delegation can significantly enhance productivity and efficiency. To delegate effectively, start by identifying tasks that others could feasibly handle and that align with their skills and capabilities. Choose individuals with the necessary skills, experience, and authority to complete the task successfully.

Next, clearly define the task and your expectations while allowing the delegated individual some autonomy to approach the task creatively. Regularly check in with them to monitor progress and provide assistance as needed, but avoid micromanaging or taking over the responsibility entirely.

Upon task completion, recognize and reward the individual for their efforts and provide constructive feedback if necessary. In a professional setting, delegation fosters teamwork and empowers colleagues, improving efficiency and morale.

Additionally, consider alternative methods of delegating tasks in your personal life, such as outsourcing household chores or joining a carpool to streamline transportation responsibilities. While these services may incur costs, the time saved often outweighs the financial investment, allowing you to focus on more meaningful or enjoyable activities.

Avoid Multitasking

Research has consistently demonstrated that multitasking does not lead to time savings. Despite common beliefs that multitasking enhances efficiency, studies have shown the opposite to be true. Many individuals, including myself, have claimed proficiency in multitasking, only to discover its detrimental effects on productivity.

The reality is that switching between tasks consumes valuable time and reduces overall productivity. Each transition requires mental readjustment and refocusing, resulting in a loss of time and efficiency. Rather than facilitating productivity, multitasking hinders it by fragmenting attention and impeding concentration.

Therefore, it is advisable to prioritize planning and organization over attempting to multitask. By allocating specific blocks of time to individual tasks and focusing on them sequentially, individuals can optimize their productivity and minimize time wastage. This underscores the importance of mindful planning and deliberate task management in maximizing efficiency.

Stop Procrastinating

Overcoming procrastination is key to effective time management. Individuals often delay tasks for various reasons, whether feeling overwhelmed or encountering unpleasant tasks. One effective strategy to combat procrastination is prioritizing tackling the most challenging task first, often called "eating the big frog first." This approach involves completing the most daunting task as the day's first action, thereby eliminating procrastination and fostering productivity.

Mark Twain famously remarked, "If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the big one first." This philosophy emphasizes the importance of addressing difficult tasks head-on and prioritizing them to enhance efficiency and task completion.

Alternatively, individuals can employ the snowball method to manage tasks effectively. This technique involves breaking down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable segments. Individuals can gradually progress toward accomplishing the larger task at hand by completing these smaller tasks incrementally. This approach helps prevent feelings of overwhelm and facilitates steady progress.

Gamification

Whether you choose to eat the big frog first or use the snowball method, try building in a reward system for completing tasks to help you stay motivated. This is called gamification. Gamification uses the same elements as a video game to make it more appealing to do something repeatedly or to help keep focused on a task. We can use the same ‘tricks’ to build systems that help keep our brains feeling engaged. Integrating gamification into daily tasks can transform the work environment by infusing elements of play, thereby enhancing engagement, creativity, and motivation. Rooted in neuroscience, gamification makes tasks more stimulating and enjoyable, addressing employees' desire for meaningful work and fostering a sense of purpose.

One example of gamification is "banking time," where individuals list their daily tasks and earn time credits for completing them. These credits can be redeemed for breaks every one to two hours, allowing individuals to engage in fun or refreshing activities. Another approach is the "quest game," where individuals create a quest log of projects to be completed. Individuals maintain engagement and reward themselves upon completing quests by switching between tasks when boredom arises.

The "level up" strategy can also be employed for repetitive tasks, such as data entry. Individuals set goals for completing a certain number of tasks before "leveling up" and rewarding themselves with enjoyable activities. These gamification techniques inject a sense of playfulness into work routines, enhancing productivity and job satisfaction.

Time-Saving Hacks

In addition to gamification, there are several time-saving hacks that individuals can utilize to streamline their workflow. For instance, creating email templates or using signatures for recurring messages reduces the need for repetitive typing. Similarly, developing house templates for standard forms minimizes time spent on data entry.

Moreover, seeking input from colleagues can provide fresh perspectives and identify more efficient ways to approach tasks. By discussing processes with coworkers, individuals may uncover simpler methods or alternative approaches to completing tasks, ultimately saving time and increasing productivity. These time-saving hacks and collaborative strategies empower individuals to optimize their workflow and achieve greater efficiency in their work.

Stay Healthy

Another crucial strategy for managing your time effectively involves prioritizing your health by scheduling downtime. Allowing yourself moments of relaxation and doing nothing can rejuvenate you physically and mentally, enhancing your ability to complete tasks faster and more easily.

Lastly, to mitigate stress, it's important to celebrate your time management victories. Before you rush into the next item on your agenda, take a moment to acknowledge the completion of a significant task or the overcoming of a substantial challenge. This recognition rewards your efforts and prepares you mentally for the tasks ahead.

Evaluate Your Strategies

It's crucial to assess your time management strategies periodically. After choosing and implementing various techniques, take time to reflect on their effectiveness. Do these strategies help maintain a healthy balance between work and home life? Am I accomplishing the tasks that are most important in your life? Are my priorities being met? Am I dedicating sufficient time to my personal well-being? If you find the answer is no to any of these questions, it may be time to adjust your approach.

For instance, my practice of monitoring work emails on both my laptop and phone proved counterproductive. Recognizing this, I decided to remove email access from my phone. This decision wasn't about disconnecting from work entirely but striving for a healthier work-life balance. This adjustment is a testament to the importance of evaluating and modifying your strategies to ensure they truly benefit you.

Scenarios

We will dedicate the last part of this class to reviewing scenarios. I have prepared a time management and a boundary scenario. Read the scenario, then take a few minutes to reflect and write down your answers to the questions posed. 

Time Management Scenario

It is Tuesday at 8:30 am, and you have just arrived at your office. You want to check your email before your scheduled home visit at 9:30. You want to leave at 9:00 so you are not late because sometimes there is traffic. While checking your email, a co-worker stops by your desk to chat. You have also just opened an email from your supervisor asking you for some information that she needs by 4:00. You think it will probably take an hour to pull this information together. You have a staff meeting from 1:00-2:00. You must leave work at 2:30 today because of a dental appointment. You are starting to feel stressed about how you will get this all done, especially since the family you are visiting always runs over your scheduled time.  

Things to consider:

• What can you do to manage your time for the day?
• How does this scenario make you feel?
• Is this a typical day for you? 

I don't know about you, but this scenario is quite stressful for me. While it's not a typical day, it occasionally happens when everything seems to pile up unexpectedly. In such a situation, I would politely inform my coworker that I don't have time to chat at the moment but suggest scheduling a catch-up later. Ensuring I leave by 09:00 to be punctual for the home visit would be my priority.

Afterward, I'd promptly contact my supervisor to explain the situation and inquire about her priorities regarding the required information. Delegating tasks to someone else could also be an option worth considering. The responses to this scenario may vary depending on individual comfort levels and preferred time management strategies. Nonetheless, it's crucial to acknowledge and address the stress of such overwhelming days. Seeking assistance from colleagues and discussing time frames can be helpful in managing such situations effectively. Ultimately, the key priority for the day remains the home visit, and structuring the day around that is essential.

Boundary Scenario

You are visiting a new family with a 3-year-old. While talking with the parents, you notice that the child is not feeding herself independently and does not use utensils. She does drink from a cup. The mother feeds her from a bowl and indicates she will continue to do this until the child can do so herself without spilling any food. The parents ask for your help talking to the child’s new preschool because they want her teacher to feed her the lunch they will be sending. 

Things to consider:

• What are some reasons the family may wish to feed the child? 
• How do you feel about your ability to discuss the parents’ request without judgment?
• How can you help prepare the family for their child’s preschool experience?
• What limitations might you define for yourself around families’ requests for help? 

This boundary scenario presents several complexities. Firstly, there could be various reasons why the family is still feeding their three-year-old child, possibly rooted in cultural practices. As a home visitor, it's crucial to gather more information by asking open-ended questions in a non-judgmental manner to gain insight into the situation.

Educating the family about the typical structure of a preschool classroom and child development is vital. While it may seem unrealistic for a preschool teacher to feed a child in that setting, the family might not be aware of this. Hence, discussing child development milestones and the importance of self-help skills for a three-year-old is essential.

In this scenario, assisting the parents in communicating with the preschool might involve establishing boundaries. While individual decisions vary, this is an opportunity to empower the family by setting boundaries and advocating for their needs. It's essential to avoid enabling or ignoring the situation but instead focus on empowering the family to address the issue with the preschool.

Furthermore, seeking input from colleagues can provide valuable insights and perspectives on how to approach such scenarios effectively. Collaboration within the workplace can offer additional support and guidance in navigating complex situations like this.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it's essential to recognize that implementing effective boundaries and time management strategies can significantly enhance personal well-being, productivity, and overall satisfaction in both professional and personal spheres. By prioritizing these skills, individuals can strive towards greater happiness, increased accomplishments, and a more fulfilling future.

Additional resources are provided below for further support and guidance on boundary-setting and time management, along with references for further reading. Thank you for your participation and engagement in this course.

Resources

References

Asana. (2022, October 28). Eat the frog. https://asana.com/resources/eat-the-frog

Cherry, K., Verywell Mind. (2023, April 25)). Using rationalization as a defense mechanism. https://www.verywellmind.com/using-rationalization-as-a-defense-mechanism-7484497

Extension at the University of Georgia. (n.d.). Time management: 10 strategies for better time management. https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C1042&title=time-management-10-strategies-for-better-time-management

LinkedIn. (n.d.). What are some common challenges and barriers to setting boundaries?. https://www.linkedin.com/advice/1/what-some-common-challenges-barriers-setting

Mind Tools. (n.d.). Eisenhower's urgent/important principle. https://www.mindtools.com/al1e0k5/eisenhowers-urgentimportant-principle

National Association for the Education of Young Children. (2020). Professional boundaries. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/dec2020/professional-boundaries

Systems of Care Institute. (2019). Tool time: Zone of helpfulness. Portland, OR: Portland State University, Center for Improvement of Child and Family Services.

University of California, Berkeley. (2016, June). Personal boundaries. https://uhs.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/relationships_personal_boundaries.pdf

Western Sydney University. (n.d.). Snowball technique. https://lf.westernsydney.edu.au/engage/strategy/snowball-technique/