Last Updated on May 26, 2023 by Paula

As service providers, we hear a lot about how we need to set better boundaries with our clients. But have you ever considered that the person you need better boundaries with is yourself?

The first person I ever heard talking about this was my client Sonja Thompkins and I knew immediately she was right! 

I knew the issue wasn’t other people not respecting my boundaries, but me not respecting them! And by not respecting my own boundaries, I nearly burnt myself out. 

Here are some boundaries that set I with myself that may be helpful to you especially if you’re in danger of burnout. 

Set Work Hours

I know what you’re thinking, “Paula, I’m a freelancer! I can work whenever I want!’ 

Yep, so did I! And all that meant was that I was working all the time. 

And if I wasn’t working I was thinking that I should be working. 

My mind never really got a break from work  That is not why I created my business and I’m sure it’s not why you created yours. 

So if you find yourself working All. The. Time. Set work hours. The beauty of running your own business is that those hours can be whatever works best for you and your family. 

For myself, it’s 9am to 4pm Monday thru Friday. Setting those hours and sticking to them made it so much easier to set work thoughts aside until it was time to actually go to work again. My mind was finally getting a break.

Take Your Vacations

You need and deserve them! And your vacations don’t have to be big huge deals, a staycation can be great too. The important thing is to set a boundary that for this amount of time you are not working or thinking about work. You need time away from work to rejuvenate your mind and body. 

I’m a believer in planning your vacations at the beginning of the year and getting them on your calendar right away. Because if you don’t, you risk not taking any! You can always adjust the dates if needed. 

Remove Notifications/Apps from Your Phone

If you get a ton of notifications on your phone for Facebook, Instagram and the like turn them off. 

Keep the in-app notifications you need but turn off your phones. By doing this, you can be more intentional with your time and check notifications when you want to. 

My phone and my mind are so much more peaceful after doing this!

I also took it a step further and removed apps like Airtable, Monday, Asana, and Slack from my phone. 

Here’s why -even though I could turn notifications off for these apps, I still receive email notifications. And when I saw that email, it was tempting to check the notification which put my mind right back in work mode! 

So I removed the apps and the temptation from my phone! 

Now I only go into these apps from my laptop. And if I have my laptop then I am in work mode and it’s ok to check those apps. 

If you’re like me and can’t resist the temptation to check those project management apps when you’re not working remove them. You’ll be so glad you did! 

Have a Designated Work Area Or Put Your Laptop Away

Having a designated work area tells your brain and those in your household that you are working when you are in that spot. 

We have an office, but most of the time I work from the couch in the living room. I do this so the dogs can cuddle with me while I work. 🙂 

When I have my laptop and lap desk everyone, including myself, knows it is work time. (Though sometimes the dogs ignore this rule and still expect me to play.) 

I  used to leave my laptop in the living room after work. Which meant it was right there, calling to me. Making it way too easy to pick it up and work on something. 

Now, I put my laptop in the office at the end of the day. Out of sight. Out of Mind! 

Don’t Get Up and Go Right to Work

Or work right up until bedtime and then get up and go right to work. This was me for longer than I care to admit. 

Instead of getting up and going right to work, create a morning routine that you enjoy and eases you into the work day. 

Maybe you’d like to start the day with a walk or cup of coffee while reading a good book. Whatever appeals to you, give yourself some time before jumping right into the workday. This will keep you from feeling like all you do is work. 

Working all the time. Thinking about work non-stop. Those roads only lead to burnout. Setting these five boundaries has really helped me create a better work-life balance and avoid burning myself out. 

I’d love to hear your thoughts on avoiding burnout in your business, comment below and tell me all about it.