Running your own business is meant to be FREEDOM, not 24/7 stress, worry and chaos.
But sometimes, somehow, “being your own boss” can quietly turn into answering emails at midnight, skipping your hobbies, and saying yes when you really mean no way 😬
At our recent Positive Power Lunch, I shared the good, bad and blurry of boundaries in business. Why they’re so bloomin' hard to stick to. Why we need them more than ever. And how reclaiming your time is the boldest move you can make in your work and life.
Let’s unpack it 👇
First up: Is Your Business Acting Like a Toddler?
Ever found yourself doing "just one more thing" on your day off, or being guilt-tripped into working through dinner? 😬
Yep. Me too.
I asked the group:
👉 “What does balance actually mean to you right now? Is it peace? Control? Flexibility?”
The answers were different, but the theme was the same: we’re tired of letting business bulldoze our boundaries.
Signs Your Boundaries Are Slipping
- Saying yes when your heart says NOPE
- Letting clients message you at all hours (and you reply!)
- Cramming things into your "day off" (aka still working)
If your business is starting to feel more like a demanding toddler than a freedom-based dream, it's time to recalibrate.
Balance Is Personal (Not Perfect)
There’s no one-size-fits-all.
Balance for you might mean no work after 3pm. For me, it’s early starts, longer days Mon–Thurs, and then sacred Fridays off (ironically, I'm writing this blog on a FRIDAY!!! BUT - there's a reason for that, because SOMETIMES I work on a Friday, with no interruption, and it's honestly a bit of bliss!!)
Whatever makes life feel sustainable, that’s your version of balance. Stick with that.
Boundaries Are Kindness
They’re not walls. They’re fences with gates.
They let the right things in and keep the overwhelm out.
Saying “no” to them is saying “yes” to you.
To your family. Your mental health. Your hobbies. Your joy. I learned some of that from my friend Ash Griffin, The Happy Therapist! She helped me give myself permission to have more joy away from work. That's another blog post for another day!
And here’s the quote I keep coming back to:
“Burnout doesn’t happen because you’re not strong. It happens because you’re too strong for too long, without support.”
Let that one land where it needs to.
Energy > Time: What Fuels You vs. What Drains You?
We often obsess over how many hours we have. But the better question is:
👉 What gives you energy – and what sucks the life out of you?
If something drains you:
- ❓Can you ditch it?
- 🔁 Can you delegate it?
- ⚙️ Can you automate it?
Efficiency is freedom. But only if you use it to buy back your time.
A Quick Activity You Can Do Today
Grab a pen and draw 3 circles:
- Do More Of
- Do Less Of
- Let Go Of
Write down 1 thing in each. That’s it.
Now ask: what would shift if I actually followed through?
This isn’t just busywork. It’s clarity.
Practical Tools for Real-Life Boundaries
These are my go-tos - and they actually (usually 🫣😅) work:
✅ Set client communication hours - I put mine in my onboarding welcome pack but you could add to your autoresponder, too!
✅ Use appointment buffers - stop booking yourself back-to-back
✅ Create a polite "No" template - reuse it when needed (and feel zero guilt!)
✅ Time block your CEO time - no more "when I get a minute" vibes, I block out 1/2 a day every Monday. Magic, getting stuff done, meetings with teams etc, working ON the business, not just IN the business!
✅ Build your burnout prevention list - baths, walks, naps, ukulele, whatever fills your cup
Bonus: Boundaries & Balance Checklist (yep, we made you one!)
1. Recognise Your Limits
☐ Are you answering emails off-hours?
☐ Saying yes to everything?
☐ Drained before your day even ends?
2. Set Clear Boundaries
☐ Do you have defined business/personal time?
☐ Got a kind-but-firm “no” message ready?
3. Prioritise Recharging
☐ Is your “me time” blocked out in the calendar?
☐ Do you know what recharges you?
4. Use Your Tools
☐ Are you time-blocking?
☐ Ending each workday with a quick success + boundary win reflection?
5. Final Thought
“Your business is part of your life – not the whole thing.”
One Tiny Shift = Big Impact
Ask yourself today:
👉 What’s one boundary I’ll reinforce this week?
👉 What’s one small change I can make to feel more balanced?
Write it down. Tell someone. And then do it.
Because the hustle isn't the badge of honour we thought it was. Well, I never thought it was. I hate the hustle culture! BUT ... what that means is, boundaries and balance will ensure you build a business that fits your life, not takes over it.
This was our topic of discussion at our May 2025 Positive Power Lunch. If you're not yet a Positive, Passionate Business Women Bloom member, you're missing out! Find out more here - it's less than $10 per month to be part of something really special!
