Setting Sustainable Work Boundaries | Learn Spanish in English

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Use Setting Sustainable Work Boundaries to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

He sido productivo, pero el ritmo se está volviendo insostenible.

eh SEE-doh proh-dook-TEE-boh, PEH-roh el REET-moh seh es-TAH bol-BYEN-doh een-soh-steh-NEE-bleh I have been productive, but the pace is becoming unsustainable.

Agradezco que lo plantees antes de que baje el rendimiento.

ah-grah-DES-koh keh loh PLAN-teh-es AN-tes deh keh BAH-heh el ren-dee-MYEN-toh I appreciate you raising it before performance drops.

Puedo seguir cumpliendo, siempre que reduzcamos las prioridades.

PWEH-doh seh-GEER koom-PLEE-en-doh, SYEM-preh keh reh-doos-KAH-mohs las pree-oh-ree-DAH-des I can continue delivering, provided priorities are reduced.

Tenemos que distinguir el trabajo urgente del que se hace principalmente para ganar visibilidad.

teh-NEH-mohs keh dees-teen-GEER el trah-BAH-hoh oor-HEN-teh del keh seh AH-seh preen-see-pal-MEN-teh PAH-rah gah-NAHR bee-see-bee-lee-DAHD We need to distinguish urgent work from work done mainly for visibility.

Algunas tareas visibles consumen energía sin cambiar los resultados.

al-GOO-nas tah-REH-as bee-SEE-bles kohn-SOO-men eh-neh-HEE-ah seen kahm-BYAR lohs reh-sool-TAH-dohs Some visible tasks consume energy without changing results.

Entonces deberíamos eliminarlas o delegarlas de forma deliberada.

en-TOHN-ses deh-beh-REE-ah-mohs eh-lee-mee-NAR-las oh deh-leh-GAR-las deh FOR-mah deh-lee-beh-RAH-dah Then we should cut or delegate them deliberately.

También me ayudaría contar con puntos claros para detenerme.

tahm-BYEN meh ah-yoo-dah-REE-ah kohn-TAR kohn POON-tohs KLAH-rohs PAH-rah deh-teh-NEHR-meh I would also benefit from clearer stopping points.

Puedo definir los criterios de finalización de cada tarea activa.

PWEH-doh deh-fee-NEER lohs kree-TEH-ree-ohs deh fee-nah-lee-sah-SYON deh KAH-dah tah-REH-ah ahk-TEE-bah I can define completion criteria for each active task.

Word by Word

He He means “have” in He sido productivo and works with the following form to describe the speaker’s productivity. Its citation form is haber. Use He + a completed-action form when describing what you have done; in this dialogue, it is used in a work discussion.

sido Sido means “been” in He sido productivo, describing the speaker’s state or performance. Its citation form is ser, and sido is the form used with He here. Use He sido + an adjective to describe how you have been.

productivo Productivo means “productive” and describes the speaker’s work performance in He sido productivo. It is used as an adjective after the verb form He sido. Use it when discussing the amount or effectiveness of work completed.

pero Pero means “but” and introduces a contrast between being productive and the pace becoming unsustainable. It connects the two parts of He sido productivo, pero el ritmo se está volviendo insostenible. Use it when acknowledging one fact before presenting a problem or limitation.

el El means “the” before the singular noun ritmo in el ritmo. It identifies a specific pace being discussed. Use it before a singular masculine noun when referring to a particular thing in the conversation.

ritmo Ritmo means “pace” in el ritmo se está volviendo insostenible, referring to the speed of work. The phrase el ritmo se está volviendo insostenible is useful when describing a work speed that cannot continue. Use it when discussing how quickly work is being done.

se Se is part of the change-of-state construction se está volviendo insostenible, where it helps express that the pace is becoming unsustainable. It does not refer to a separate English object here. Use se with this kind of change-of-state expression when describing something that is turning into a new condition.

está Está means “is” in se está volviendo insostenible and supports the ongoing change being described. Its citation form is estar. Use está with an ongoing action or state when describing what is happening now.

volviendo Volviendo means “becoming” in se está volviendo insostenible, describing the pace changing into an unsustainable condition. Its citation form is volver. Use está volviendo or se está volviendo when describing a condition that is gradually changing.

insostenible Insostenible means “unsustainable” and describes a pace that cannot be maintained in the current work situation. It completes the change-of-state expression se está volviendo insostenible. Use it for a workload, pace, or arrangement that cannot continue for long.

Agradezco Agradezco means “I appreciate” in Agradezco que lo plantees, expressing thanks for someone raising the issue. Its citation form is agradecer. Use Agradezco que lo plantees in a professional conversation to acknowledge a concern someone has brought up.

que Que introduces the action being appreciated in Agradezco que lo plantees. It connects Agradezco with the clause describing what the other person did. Use que to introduce a clause that gives the content of a reaction, judgment, or appreciation.

lo Lo means “it” in lo plantees and refers to the issue that has been raised. It appears before the verb in Agradezco que lo plantees. Use lo before a verb when referring back to a previously mentioned masculine or unspecified matter.

plantees Plantees means “raise” or “bring up” in Agradezco que lo plantees, referring to bringing the work problem into the discussion. Its citation form is plantear. Use Agradezco que lo plantees when thanking someone for raising a concern.

antes Antes means “before” in antes de que baje el rendimiento and places one event earlier than another. Here it emphasizes addressing the problem before performance declines. Use it with a time expression when setting an earlier point in a process.

de De is part of the time construction antes de que baje el rendimiento, contributing the meaning “before” rather than “of” or “from.” It links antes to the following clause. Use antes de que to describe an action that should happen before another event.

baje Baje means “drops” in antes de que baje el rendimiento, referring to performance declining. Its citation form is bajar, and this form is used for the expected decline after antes de que. Use it when discussing a possible fall in performance or another measurable condition.

rendimiento Rendimiento means “performance” in baje el rendimiento, the level of effectiveness that might decline. The phrase baje el rendimiento is useful when discussing the effect of an unsustainable workload. Use it when talking about how well work is being carried out.

Puedo Puedo means “I can” in Puedo seguir cumpliendo, presenting continued delivery as possible. Its citation form is poder. Use Puedo + an action to state what you are able or willing to continue doing.

seguir Seguir means “continue” in Puedo seguir cumpliendo and shows that the delivery of work will carry on. It follows Puedo and introduces the continuing activity. Use seguir with an action when saying that an activity will not stop.

cumpliendo Cumpliendo means “delivering” or “fulfilling” in seguir cumpliendo, referring to continuing to meet work expectations. Its citation form is cumplir. Use seguir cumpliendo when agreeing to maintain responsibilities under a stated condition.

siempre Siempre contributes the conditional meaning “as long as” in siempre que reduzcamos las prioridades, rather than its usual standalone meaning “always.” Together with que, it introduces the condition for continuing to deliver. Use it in this construction when making an agreement dependent on a condition.

reduzcamos Reduzcamos means “we reduce” in siempre que reduzcamos las prioridades, identifying the condition that the group must meet. Its citation form is reducir. Use it in a shared-work discussion when proposing that the group lower the number or scope of priorities.

las Las means “the” before the plural noun prioridades in las prioridades. It refers to the specific priorities already being discussed. Use it before a plural feminine noun when referring to particular items.

prioridades Prioridades means “priorities” in reduzcamos las prioridades, referring to the items that should be reduced to make the workload sustainable. The phrase reduzcamos las prioridades is useful when negotiating workload limits. Use it when deciding which work deserves attention first.

Tenemos Tenemos means “we need to” in Tenemos que distinguir, where the construction expresses a shared obligation. Its citation form is tener. Use Tenemos que + an action when stating that a group must do something.

distinguir Distinguir means “distinguish” in Tenemos que distinguir el trabajo urgente del que se hace principalmente para ganar visibilidad. It introduces the comparison between urgent work and work done for visibility. Use it when separating two types of work or two possible priorities.

trabajo Trabajo means “work” in el trabajo urgente, referring to the work that requires urgent attention. It is one side of the distinction introduced by distinguir. Use it with a description such as urgente when classifying work.

urgente Urgente means “urgent” and describes trabajo in el trabajo urgente. It identifies work that requires attention because of its immediate importance. Use trabajo urgente when prioritizing time-sensitive work.

del Del is the contraction of de and el in del que se hace principalmente para ganar visibilidad. It supplies the meaning “from the” in the contrast between urgent work and the other type of work. Use distinguir ... del ... when distinguishing one thing from another.

hace Hace means “is done” in se hace principalmente para ganar visibilidad, describing work being carried out for a particular purpose. Its citation form is hacer, and it works here with se. Use se hace when describing how work or an activity is carried out.

principalmente Principalmente means “mainly” and limits the purpose of the work in principalmente para ganar visibilidad. It indicates that gaining visibility is the primary reason, not necessarily the only one. Use it before a purpose or description when identifying what matters most.

para Para introduces the purpose in para ganar visibilidad, meaning that the work is done in order to gain visibility. It is followed here by the infinitive ganar. Use para + an action when explaining the purpose of an activity.

ganar Ganar means “gain” in para ganar visibilidad, describing the intended increase in visibility. Its citation form is ganar. Use para ganar + a result when explaining what an activity is intended to achieve.

visibilidad Visibilidad means “visibility” in ganar visibilidad, referring to how noticeable the work is to others. The phrase ganar visibilidad describes work done mainly to become more noticed. Use it when discussing the recognition or exposure that an activity receives.

Algunas Algunas means “some” in Algunas tareas visibles and refers to an unspecified subset of the tasks. It comes before the plural noun tareas. Use it when identifying part of a group without specifying exactly which items.

tareas Tareas means “tasks” in Algunas tareas visibles, referring to individual pieces of work. The phrase Algunas tareas visibles identifies the tasks being evaluated for their value. Use it when discussing separate activities within a larger workload.

visibles Visibles means “visible” and describes tareas in tareas visibles, referring to tasks that are noticeable in the work context. It helps distinguish these tasks from other work. Use it after a noun when describing work that is apparent to other people.

consumen Consumen means “consume” in consumen energía, describing tasks using up the speaker’s energy. Its citation form is consumir. Use it when explaining that an activity takes up a limited resource such as energy.

energía Energía means “energy” in consumen energía, the resource used by the visible tasks. Here it refers to the speaker’s capacity for work rather than to a physical object. Use it when discussing the personal cost of a workload.

sin Sin means “without” in sin cambiar los resultados and introduces an action that does not occur alongside the main action. It is followed here by the infinitive cambiar. Use sin + an action when describing effort carried out without a particular result.

cambiar Cambiar means “change” in sin cambiar los resultados, referring to the results remaining unaffected. Its citation form is cambiar. Use sin cambiar + an object when explaining that an activity does not alter something.

los Los means “the” before the plural noun resultados in los resultados. It refers to the specific results of the work. Use it before a plural masculine noun when referring to particular items.

resultados Resultados means “results” in cambiar los resultados, referring to the outcomes of the work. The phrase sin cambiar los resultados contrasts effort with its lack of effect. Use it when evaluating whether an activity has changed the final outcome.

Entonces Entonces means “then” or “so” and introduces the proposed response to the tasks consuming energy. It connects the previous observation with eliminarlas o delegarlas. Use it when drawing a conclusion or moving from a problem to an action.

deberíamos Deberíamos means “we should” in deberíamos eliminarlas o delegarlas, presenting a considered recommendation. Its citation form is deber. Use it in a collaborative discussion when suggesting an action without presenting it as a direct order.

eliminarlas Eliminarlas means “remove them,” referring back to the visible tasks that consume energy. Its citation form is eliminar, and the attached reference points to tareas visibles. Use it when proposing that previously mentioned tasks be removed from the workload.

o O means “or” and links the two alternatives eliminarlas o delegarlas. It presents removal and delegation as different possible responses. Use it to connect alternative actions or choices.

delegarlas Delegarlas means “delegate them,” again referring to the visible tasks. Its citation form is delegar, and the attached reference points to tareas visibles. Use it when proposing that someone else take responsibility for previously mentioned work.

forma Forma means “way” or “manner” in de forma deliberada, describing how the tasks should be removed or delegated. The phrase de forma deliberada is a reusable way to describe an intentional manner of acting. Use it when specifying how an action is carried out.

deliberada Deliberada means “deliberate” or “intentional” in de forma deliberada, showing that the decision should be made consciously. It describes the manner expressed by forma. Use it when an action is planned rather than automatic or accidental.

También También means “also” and adds another need to the earlier workload proposals. It introduces the request for clearer stopping points in También me ayudaría contar con puntos claros para detenerme. Use it when adding a further point or benefit to a discussion.

me Me means “to me” in me ayudaría, identifying the person who would benefit from the clearer stopping points. It appears before the verb in También me ayudaría. Use it before a verb when showing who receives a benefit or effect.

ayudaría Ayudaría means “would help” in me ayudaría contar con puntos claros para detenerme, expressing a possible benefit. Its citation form is ayudar. Use it when explaining what arrangement or action would make a situation easier.

contar Contar means “have” or “be provided with” in contar con puntos claros, not “count.” Its citation form is contar, and the meaning comes from the construction contar con. Use contar con when referring to having access to a useful resource, arrangement, or support.

con Con means “with” in contar con puntos claros and completes the construction that expresses having or being provided with something. It links contar to the available stopping points. Use contar con before the thing or support that someone has available.

puntos Puntos means “points” in puntos claros para detenerme, referring to defined moments at which work can stop. The phrase gives the idea of clear stopping points rather than vague limits. Use it when marking specific stages or moments in a process.

claros Claros means “clear” and describes puntos in puntos claros para detenerme. It indicates that the stopping moments should be easy to understand. Use it to describe limits, criteria, or points that are unambiguous.

detenerme Detenerme means “stop” in para detenerme, referring to the speaker stopping work. Its citation form is detener, and the attached reference identifies the speaker as the person who stops. Use it when describing the speaker’s own decision or ability to stop an activity.

definir Definir means “define” in Puedo definir los criterios de finalización, presenting the creation of clear completion standards as possible. Its citation form is definir. Use Puedo definir + an object when offering to establish or specify something.

criterios Criterios means “criteria” in los criterios de finalización, referring to the standards used to decide whether work is complete. The phrase provides a practical way to make completion expectations explicit. Use it when setting standards for evaluating a task.

finalización Finalización means “completion” in criterios de finalización, specifying that the criteria concern finishing the work. It identifies the point at which a task can be considered done. Use it when discussing standards or conditions for completing a task.

cada Cada means “each” in cada tarea activa and considers the tasks one by one. It is followed here by the singular noun tarea. Use it before a singular item when applying the same idea separately to every item in a group.

tarea Tarea means “task” in cada tarea activa, referring to one individual piece of work. It is described as active and receives its own completion criteria. Use it when discussing a specific unit of work within a larger workload.

activa Activa means “active” in cada tarea activa, describing a task that is currently in progress or still being handled. It agrees with the feminine noun tarea. Use it to distinguish ongoing tasks from work that is already finished.

Grammar Points

siempre que + subjuntivo

Siempre que reduzcamos el ritmo.

SYEM-preh keh reh-doos-KAH-mohs el REET-moh

As long as we reduce the pace.

Siempre que introduces a condition and is followed by the subjunctive when the condition is uncertain or future.

condicional: ayudaría + infinitivo

Ayudaría a reducir el ritmo.

ah-yoo-dah-REE-ah ah reh-doo-SEER el REET-moh

It would help reduce the pace.

The conditional expresses a hypothetical or possible result.

Spanish Vocabulary

agradecer verb

ah-grah-deh-SER to appreciate; to be grateful for agradezco

Agradezco que lo plantees

cumplir verb

koom-PLEER to deliver; to fulfill cumpliendo

Puedo seguir cumpliendo

distinguir verb

dees-teen-GEER to distinguish

Tenemos que distinguir el trabajo urgente

insostenible adj

een-soh-steh-NEE-bleh unsustainable

se está volviendo insostenible

plantear verb

plan-teh-AR to raise; to bring up plantees

que lo plantees

productivo adj

proh-dook-TEE-boh productive

He sido productivo

reducir verb

reh-doo-SEER to reduce reduzcamos

reduzcamos las prioridades

rendimiento noun

ren-dee-MYEN-toh performance

baje el rendimiento

ritmo noun

REET-moh pace

el ritmo se está volviendo insostenible

siempre que conj

SYEM-preh keh provided that; as long as

siempre que reduzcamos las prioridades

urgente adj

oor-HEN-teh urgent

el trabajo urgente

visibilidad noun

bee-see-bee-lee-DAHD visibility

para ganar visibilidad

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to reduce

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reduzcamos

productive

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productivo

unsustainable

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insostenible

performance

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rendimiento