Our beef with boundaries - why it’s so hard to stick to them
Links and resources:
- From Burnout to Balanced: Resetting Your Business When Everything Feels Like Too Much: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ac362c4c-31c2-4704-a88d-e1c3e8b42e06/
Let’s be honest—setting boundaries in business is hard.
If you’re a people pleaser (like I am), even the word "boundaries" can feel a little intimidating. In this episode of the Deeply Rooted Business Podcast, Rachel and I unpack what makes boundary-setting so uncomfortable and share the shifts we've made to protect our time, energy, and sanity—without sacrificing connection or client care.
The lies we tell ourselves about boundaries
One of the biggest challenges around setting boundaries? The stories we tell ourselves.
We convince ourselves that saying no means losing clients. That if we don’t reply within five minutes, we’re failing. That small favors won’t hurt. But over time, those tiny “yeses” pile up and they cost more than just time. They create confusion, resentment, and often set the stage for misaligned expectations.
What we’ve learned? The clients who respect your boundaries are the ones worth keeping. And you don’t have to be everything, to everyone, all the time. In fact, when you’re clear and consistent, the right clients will trust you even more.
Letting go of 24/7 availability
We’ve both been there—answering messages late at night, checking email in the middle of dinner, keeping Slack notifications on just in case.
And while it feels responsible in the moment, it’s actually a fast track to burnout. I have a 24-hour response policy written into my onboarding—but I rarely follow it, because I feel guilty waiting. Sound familiar?
What’s helped us is building buffer time into communication, scheduling responses (yes, even if it’s ready early), and turning off notifications when we’re not “on.” Setting expectations and sticking to them is key because if we don’t respect our own boundaries, no one else will either.
How systems and automation protect your boundaries
If you’ve ever overexplained a boundary or bent a rule to avoid confrontation, this is your invitation to let systems do the heavy lifting.
Things like structured onboarding emails, automatic invoice reminders, canned responses, and client portals have made our boundaries feel less personal (in a good way). They shift expectations from “you’re saying no” to “this is how the process works.”
And the best part? It doesn’t just protect your energy—it enhances your client experience. Systems bring clarity, consistency, and calm to what used to feel messy and emotional.
Boundaries are a muscle—one we’re all learning to flex. And while it won’t always be easy, it gets easier the more you practice. By checking the stories we tell ourselves, being intentional with our communication, and letting systems reinforce our values, we’re building businesses that are not only sustainable, but supportive—for us and our clients.
