I’ve talked recently about how boundaries can become contagious and the behaviours that can (often unintentionally) fuel burnout. I want to tie those threads together with a reminder that, in both areas, you have agency. Agency is an inner sense of ownership, your capacity to act independently and make choices that influence your day, your energy, your focus, and your direction.
It’s that great phrase, are you happening to life, or is life happening to you? This is a big question, which all comes back to agency.
Why Agency Matters
When we abandon agency, we slide into reactivity. Other people’s priorities set the pace, their boundaries become ours, and our calendars become to-do lists for everyone else.
When we reclaim agency, we design our days with intent, which enables us to protect our energy, role model the behaviours we value, and give others permission to do the same.
How to Reclaim Your Agency
We have more autonomy over our day than many of us think, particularly in the working world.
If you need to take more control over a situation, you need to ensure your boundaries are clear, shared with others and that you stick to them. Examples of strong boundaries include:
- Defining your working hours (and respecting them!)
- Shortening meetings to ensure you’re not booked back-to-back, or asking what my role is in this meeting, am I definitely required, or can I be caught up with notes?
- Articulating your non-negotiables, like those twice-weekly exercise classes, family time, or a daily lunchtime walk, to others
Role modelling the behaviour you want to see. Don’t tell people there’s no need to respond when sending an email late into the evening. Instead, schedule it for the next day. Take your breaks, so others feel they can do the same, and celebrate those who prioritise rest and recovery alongside hard work.
Your team will copy what you do, not what you say.
Are You Happening to Life, Or Is Life Happening to You?
When you look at what’s going on for you professionally and personally, ask yourself, honestly, are you happening to it or is it happening to you?
Agency doesn’t mean controlling everything, it means owning what you can influence, your pace, recovery and boundaries. What small actions can you take to flip that script, so you’re happening to life rather than reacting to life happening around you?
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