Developed by HRI Program Coordinator, Camila Dos Santos, M.Ed.
Your partner or roommate can be a great source of support in keeping boundaries around work. When you both are aware of each other’s goals around work boundaries, you can work together to make sure you’re accomplishing those goals. For example, if you would like to end the workday at a particular time each day, they can give you gentle reminders as that time comes near each day.
Clear and consistent communication about boundaries and expectations are crucial for this team approach to work without adding stress to the relationship, however. Check out this HRI Toolkit for Couples for tips on communicating effectively: https://www.guilfordhri.org/community-resources/toolkits/couples/.
The Healthy Relationships Initiative is excited to partner once again with Healthy UNCG to provide a free webinar on healthy work relationships in a remote world. This program will be presented by Camila Dos Santos, HRI Program Coordinator, and will provide strategies to help foster and maintain healthy relationships when most of us are working from home.
Our newest E-Book is hot off the press! This E-Book provides parents with children of all ages with strategies and insights into being an engaged parent. Designed by Bringing Out the Best at UNC Greensboro with resources developed by HRI, this resource is a great tool for new and experienced parents alike!
Developed by HRI Program Coordinator, Camila Dos Santos, M.Ed.
When it comes to setting boundaries around work, we often think of technology as an obstacle, but in fact – technology can be a handy tool in setting and keeping boundaries around work.
One example of using technology to help keep boundaries around work is to utilize calendars, timers, and alert systems to help you stay on track with your time. In order for this strategy to work, it’s important to schedule both professional and personal tasks on your calendar in order to keep anything from getting overlooked. Don’t forget to also schedule time for mindfulness, relaxation, and doing nothing! If you don’t schedule, you are less likely to do it.
Developed by HRI Program Coordinator, Camila Dos Santos, M.Ed.
Even if you don’t always do your work from the designated space, it can still be beneficial to have a place to leave your things. At the end of each workday, make it a habit to put everything back in that place and shut the door.
Developed by HRI Program Coordinator, Camila Dos Santos, M.Ed.
Setting boundaries around work is crucial when many of us are working from home indefinitely. This week, we will provide you with different tips to help set and keep boundaries around remote work.
The first tip in the series is to adopt rituals. Rituals help us find balance between different priorities. For example, starting and ending the workday with a short walk around the block allows you to use that time to decompress and plan ahead for the day. Taking 5 minutes each hour to stretch and breathe deeply can help to re-center and re-energize your mind. For some, getting dressed in work clothes each day helps to stay motivated when working from home. What is most important about your ritual or rituals is that they work for you!
While we will continue to share tips to find the balance with remote work, you may also check out our free webinar on Setting Boundaries When Working From Homehere.
“We are all so busy chasing the extraordinary that we forget to stop and be grateful for the ordinary.” – Brené Brown
When we learn to find gratitude in the the day-to-day things, we can learn to find the joy in the ordinary part of living. We encourage you to take some time today and admire the beauty of the simple things, such as the joy we get from the laugh of a child or from the tender touch of a spouse or partner.
Developed by HRI Program Coordinator, Camila Dos Santos, M.Ed.
There are many resources designed to help young children understand and fight against racism. When having these conversations with children, it can be especially helpful to use resources such as picture books, videos, or other media to facilitate the discussion.
Children learn best when they engage with their learning, and using stories and books can be an extremely effective way to engage them in discussions about racism and racial injustice. Check out this list of children’s books by PBS Kids to help you get started: https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/childrens-books-about-race-and-diversity
When using resources to talk to children about racism, it is important to preview and vet the material, as well as think ahead about how you will use it to engage your child in discussion.
Developed by HRI Program Coordinator, Camila Dos Santos, M.Ed.
Children know when adults are not being completely truthful, and while they do not need to know everything, it’s important to be as honest as you can be when talking about important and sensitive topics, particularly racism and racial injustice.
When engaging in conversations about racism with young children, it’s okay to say, “I don’t know” or “I’ll need to learn more about that,” if they bring up a question or issue that you are unsure of or need more time to think about before responding.
Sometimes, it’s best to revisit a conversation later once you have had time to become comfortable and knowledgeable about the topic. Common Sense Media has a great resource on how to talk to kids about difficult subjects that while not specifically addressing racism, has many strategies that can help parents navigate sensitive discussions with children of all ages.
Being honest with children also means being genuine about our emotions or thoughts. When sharing, it is important to use words that children can understand and to refrain from scaring or overwhelming them. It’s okay to let your child know you’re concerned or stressed about something, but they probably don’t need to see you visibly upset over it.
If you’re unsure about what to share or how much to share, practice sharing with an adult first, such as your spouse or a family member, to help you make sure that the conversation is appropriate for your child and to help you choose the right words to express yourself.
Remember that when we share our emotions with our children, we teach them that it’s okay to express how we feel and we help them learn to empathize with and care about the feelings of others.
Developed by HRI Program Coordinator, Camila Dos Santos, M.Ed.
Parents of young children know that they see and hear more than we think they do. For this reason, it can be helpful to start by asking your child questions to understand their perspective. Parents will want to know if their children have experienced or witnessed racism and racial injustices firsthand in order to respond appropriately in the conversation. Depending on your child’s perspective, they may ask different questions or want to discuss certain issues.
Rather than introducing a conversation with your own talking points, try starting the discussion by asking your child questions such as, “What do you know about this?”, or, “What would you like to know about what you saw on TV or heard so-and-so say?”
Sometimes, as parents, the most educational experiences we can have are when we sit and listen to our children’s feelings and thoughts. Check out this HRI resource on attentive listening to help you ensure that you are actively listening when they answer your questions: https://healthyrelationshipsinitiative.org/model-active-listening/.
When we allow our children the space to answer and ask questions without judgment, we can have meaningful and impactful discussions about many topics, especially racism and how to stop it. Further, children who engage in these discussions grow up to be confident and empathetic adults that have the potential to change their world for the better.
