An in-depth Walkthrough: How to Set Business Boundaries

so work fits around your life, not the other way around

Following on from my latest personal post where I explain why I can’t work a typical 9-5 and why flexibility in my business is essential, I thought I’d write a detailed walk-through post about how you can set some boundaries in your own business.

Boundaries are a layer of protection. They help to limit certain areas of your business, reduce overwhelm and avoid burnout. They are important for your clients/customers, but they’re even more important for you, especially if you’re anything like me and end up staying awake until the early hours working!

We implement boundaries with our children, we limit snacks, monitor screen time and set bedtimes. We do it to help them because we know that they’ll function better with more sleep. So why are we so scared to implement them for ourselves?

Well, for me, it’s because I put my children first and myself last. I make sure that their needs are attended to, and then I squeeze in my working hours late at night or on weekends. I know I’m not alone in this, so how can we protect ourselves and implement some boundaries?

Firstly, we need to be strict. We know that boundaries are healthy for us, but it takes practice and perseverance to make the habit stick. So set a goal - to set and stick to your boundaries for 30 days.

Secondly, write your boundaries down and stick them somewhere that you’ll see them often. It’s no use setting boundaries and then sticking them in a drawer or in a folder on your computer, never to be seen again. We need reminding of our boundaries, and if they’re somewhere visible, then we’ll check in with them more often, and we’ll be more likely to stick to them.

Let’s start thinking about what boundaries we can set for ourselves. I’ll describe some common ones below, but feel free to add your own boundaries that are relevant for you and your business/life.