I was talking to a friend the other day about the chaos of running a business on top of working a day job and somehow holding onto our sanity. Sometimes you just need to walk away from what you’re working on to get a fresh start.

So I did that. When I came back and looked at the clock, it was almost dinner — and I was still in “go mode!” I was doing some client work and dealing with back to back emails, then scheduling another meeting and somehow I’d convinced myself I was in control of my schedule. Next thing I know, my calendar is booked and that day has gone by in a blink. It’s great being booked but if I’m honest… my schedule was running me.

We both agreed on one thing, and that was how and when we interact with clients. It makes a huge difference in how our work life feels. Here are a few boundaries that might help you that I use. When these are set, it takes a lot of stress away.

*** Set Your Own Hours-— Just because a client emails me at night or on a weekend doesn’t mean I have to respond right then. It simply means they’re working and honestly, I’m glad they’re moving things forward! I’ve learned that I get to define my working hours—and protect them. That’s not rude. That’s respecting my time and boundaries.

*** Use Tech to Stay in Control — If I do want to work outside my normal hours, I use a scheduling tool to delay emails until the next business day. This way, I stay productive on my time—but I’m not accidentally resetting client expectations by replying at midnight. Gmail and most email platforms offer this, and it’s a game-changer.

*** Manage Expectations from Day One — With new clients, I’m clear up front: I’m usually at my desk from 9–6. I respond within 24hours. I do scan for emergencies, but I don’t live in my inbox. Yes, there are crunch times when I work late—but that’s the exception, not the rule.

*** Design Your Workweek For You – – – When you’re a business owner, you have the power to create a week that works best for you. If you aren’t creative in the mornings, block that time off for other work. If Mondays feel overwhelming to you, don’t book yourself any meetings where you have to interact. Instead, focus on uninterrupted work and build your week from there. Your time is yours to block off the way that works best for you to get the results you desire. Only you know what you need to succeed.

*** Busy Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Productive – – – It’s easy to feel like things are getting done when you’re answering emails, checking off boxes etc, but if priorities aren’t being met, you’re really just playing office. There’s a difference between being busy and being productive…. and it took me a bit to differentiate this. Sometimes you just need to ask yourself, “What do I actually need to get done this week?”….. or, “What can wait?”

The Result? – – – My clients know what to expect and that is one huge hurdle …and I get to be present with Andrew, my partner, while being able to recharge to show up at my best—without burning out, which is huge.

Here’s a little food for thought…..What’s one boundary you could set (or reset) this week? Don’t feel bad about a reset either. At least you’re still moving forward. Give yourself permission to slow down, recognize what you’ve achieved and take some personal time to do something for yourself to recharge.