If I do not treat my WhatsApp as an office and create boundaries, I will feel violated.
In most offices. there are clear contratual guidelines of when work should begin and end, and clea guidelines of the work expectations. Often, these lines are crossed. For example, even when work ends at 5pm, meetings are held up to 7pm, or online meetings continue up to 10pm. Sometimes impromptu weekend meetings are scheduled and in most cases, none of the employees are remunerated for the overtime.
It becomes worse when we feel entitled to people's online spaces. The WhatsApp office groups become unprotected. Calls for proposals and last minute edits and responses are sent after 6pm.
In other instances, family members, colleagues, friends and acquaintances send messages close to midnight, they call during dinner time and demand our attention.
We must create boundaries to protect ourselves. Just like national parks have boundaries for the animals' safety and property owners have boundaries to mark their land.
We must create boundaries for online communication. When I wake u before dawn, Ithat is my private quiet time with God and should not be violated. I will not respond to your call or message. Any urgent message will always finds its way to me and through discernment, will be identified.
WhatsApp spaces need opening and closing hours so that we protect our time, minds and our own sanity. Chunks of private time should be spent alone, with family, reading, taking on hobbies or just relaxing. When we respond to messages at all hours of the day, we sent the message that we do not have boundaries.
Protect your space.
Put a sign that says, Sorry I've missed you. See you tomorrow at 9am.
