I’ve been juggling a full-time job as a financially analyst and a Master’s, and that’s already a lot. But the part I didn’t expect to struggle with this much is something else: boundaries at work.
My team is mostly Gen Z, same as me, and the vibe is very casual. We joke, we talk like friends, we share stuff beyond just work. On one hand, it makes the environment lighter and more human. On the other, I’m starting to feel like I’m too open, like the line between “colleagues” and “friends” is getting blurred more than it should.
And I think that’s where my discomfort is coming from.
Because when things get stressful, or when I need to be fully professional, it’s harder to switch gears. You can’t always be both “the chill colleague” and “the reliable professional who sets boundaries” at the same time without it feeling awkward.
I don’t regret being friendly, but I’m starting to question how much is too much.
Has anyone dealt with this kind of dynamic? Especially in younger teams where everything feels informal, how do you stay approachable without losing that professional distance?