Setting Boundaries in Academia: Strategic Nos for Your Career

This workshop is designed for early career researchers who want to take more strategic control of their academic careers by learning how to set healthy boundaries.

In today’s competitive academic environment, many researchers struggle with saying no to requests and opportunities. This often leads to scattered focus, burnout, and slower career progress.

The academic world presents unique challenges for boundary-setting:

- Unclear hierarchies and dependency relationships
- Pressure to constantly prove oneself
- Fear that declining opportunities might harm future prospects
- Lack of clarity about personal goals and values, making it difficult to separate essential from non-essential commitments

This workshop takes a structured, problem-solving approach. Together, we will:

- Create clarity around personal priorities and goals as a foundation for strategic decision-making
- Explore the internal barriers that make boundary-setting difficult
- Practice practical approaches for implementing boundaries effectively in academic contexts

Through a mix of individual reflection, peer exchange, and hands-on exercises, participants will gain the clarity and confidence needed to make strategic choices about their time and energy.

By the end of the workshop, you will leave with:

- Concrete tools you can apply in your daily academic life
- Greater confidence in setting boundaries
- A clearer sense of how healthy boundaries can accelerate rather than hinder your career development

The event is open to all users of the Hamburg Research Academy, participation is free of charge, please register here.