I did it again.

You know that feeling when you think you’ve finally learned a lesson, only to find yourself making the exact same mistake? Yeah, that was me just a few weeks ago.

I had just wrapped up a massive contract that left me completely burnt out. I was mentally exhausted, physically drained, and desperately craving something I hadn’t had in months…actual downtime. Time to recover. Calendar freedom. Space to be with my family without my brain still being stuck in work mode.

So I did what any sensible person would do: I set a boundary. A big, clear, non-negotiable boundary. “Nothing new in my business until the fall,” I declared. I was heading into an intentionally slow season. A season of recovery and much-needed breathing room.

And then… cue the dramatic music… a project idea I’d been kicking around for over two years with a friend suddenly popped back up in conversation.

My tired brain started doing mental gymnastics: “I have some time now… let me crunch these numbers… consider my schedule… well, I COULD swing it now, why not give it a go?” 

And before I knew it, the word “yes” was tumbling out of my mouth.

Fast forward, and I’m sitting here writing this blog post while simultaneously having some tough conversations about boundaries with my project partner. Why? Because this “manageable” project has completely taken over, demanding way more time and energy than I initially anticipated.

I said yes simply because I COULD… and completely forgot that didn’t automatically mean I SHOULD.

Not exactly the recovery season I had planned. And all because I ignored the one little lesson I’ve learned again and again. The one lesson I should honestly have permanently fixed to my computer screen at this point: just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

Why Business Burnout Happens to the Most Capable People

I learned this lesson before when I said yes to way too many design projects that sucked the soul out of me simply because I had the capacity to take them on. I was stuck on that hamster wheel of scarcity where I was never sure when more was enough, so more was always good.

I learned this lesson when I agreed to work with less than ideal clients because, though they weren’t a great fit for ME, I was a great fit for them and I KNEW I could help them. And so I did even though the time, energy, & emotional toll it took hit my personal life and mental health hard.

Long story short: I have learned this lesson many times! But like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, it still sneaks by me every now and then. It’s a sneaky bugger! And no one is perfect or on alert every hour of every day (that would just be paranoia). But I have gotten way better at it than I ever was in my earlier years, and I now have the tools in place to help me get it right most of the time.

The Two-Part Solution to Preventing Business Burnout

There are two crucial elements that help you determine if you could AND you should take on something new:

1. Clarity 

2. Boundaries

And honestly, the clarity informs the boundaries (and then helps you hold them once you set them). It’s really a one-two punch that keeps you moving toward your bigger vision instead of getting distracted by every shiny opportunity that comes your way.

Remember: fuzzy targets don’t get hit!

Getting Crystal Clear on What Matters Most

To set boundaries that actually serve your creative business vision, you need clarity on these key areas:

Your Bigger Picture:

• Your vision for your business and life
• Your core strengths and zone of genius
• Your mission and purpose
• Your morals, values, and integrity
• Your personal definition of success (this is your measuring stick!)

Your Business Nuts and Bolts:

• Your offers and services
• Your ideal clients (and who you DON’T want to work with)
• Your finances and “enough point”
• Your NOT TO DO list

That NOT TO DO list is a game-changer, by the way. It should include:

• Clients you won’t work with (know your red flags!)
• Projects you won’t accept
• Tasks you will not take on again

This kind of clarity is key when it comes to setting boundaries that actually stick. When you know exactly what drains your energy, conflicts with your values, or pulls you away from your zone of genius, your boundaries stop feeling arbitrary – they become protective barriers around what matters most. 

You’re not just saying “no” anymore; you’re saying “no because this doesn’t align with my vision, strengths, and/or values.” That WHY makes all the difference when clients push back or when you start second-guessing yourself.

When I was a freelance graphic designer, this meant saying no to things like social media scheduling. Sure, I could do it – I had the files, it seemed convenient for clients. But I would hate that job, and there are people out there who absolutely shine at it. Just because I could doesn’t mean I should.

As a COO, I get asked all the time to take on admin tasks that aren’t really highly skilled work. “Well, you did all the strategy, so why don’t you just implement this simple thing too?” It’s really easy for that scope creep to happen when you’re capable, but those “simple” asks can quickly become huge time and energy drains.

What Boundaries Actually Protect

Boundaries aren’t just about keeping things out, they’re also about keeping the important things in and protecting what’s most valuable to you:

• Your time and energy
• Your investments and resources
• Your mental, physical, and emotional health
• Your privacy (especially important as an online business owner)
• Your loved ones, family, and relationships

Think of boundaries as a fence around a beautiful garden. The fence isn’t there to be mean. It’s there to protect what’s growing inside.

Examples of Healthy Business Boundaries That Actually Work

Here are some of the boundaries that have made the biggest difference for me and my clients:

Work Hours and Communication Lines

These are probably the two most important boundaries you can set. Let people know when you work so they know what to expect, then hold yourself to that. And don’t open every channel of communication to every person – it’s too much to juggle. Pick your channels and stick to them.

Project Scope and Inclusions/Exclusions

Be crystal clear about what you will and won’t do within any project. This goes back to that NOT TO DO list.

Turnaround Time Expectations

I see this one violated constantly in service-based businesses. Clients expect immediate responses and want to think they’re your only client. Setting boundaries around response times (24 hours, 48 hours, 3 business days – whatever works for you) is crucial for protecting your sanity.

Process Boundaries

If you have a process in place that you’ve agreed to, and someone goes outside of that process, you have every right to ask them to go back and do it correctly. Processes exist for a reason – usually to prevent mistakes and protect everyone involved.

Information and Privacy Boundaries

For me, this means I don’t share my kids’ faces or names publicly. I use them with clients and friends and on my personal accounts (which are set to private), but anything public is a hard no. My kids are their own people, and it’s not my decision to make about their online presence.

Why This Matters for Your Bigger Vision

When you get clear on your vision and set boundaries that support it, something shifts. You quit saying yes to things that drain you and start saying yes to things that energize you and move you forward.

You protect your time and energy for the work that matters most. You create space for the opportunities that align with where you’re going. And you build a business that supports the life you actually want to live.

Your Next Steps

If you’re resonating with this (and maybe cringing a little because you’ve been there too), here’s what I want you to do:

1. Get clarity on your vision first. What are you actually building toward? What does success look like for you? What are your non-negotiables?
   
   
2. Create your NOT TO DO list. What clients, projects, and tasks are you going to stop saying yes to, even when you could handle them?
   
   
3. Set clear boundaries around your work hours, communication, project scope, and anything else that’s important to protecting what matters most to you.
   
   
4. Give yourself permission to hold those boundaries even when it feels uncomfortable or you’re worried about missing out.

Remember, just because you CAN do something doesn’t mean you SHOULD. Your boundaries aren’t about being difficult, they’re about being intentional with your time, energy, and attention so you can build the creative business and life you actually want.

Trust me, I’m still learning this lesson myself. But every time I get it right, I’m reminded of why it’s so worth it.

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Need help getting clear on your vision and setting boundaries that actually work? 

My course “Business Building for Creatives” walks you through the exact framework I use with my coaching clients to build sustainable, profitable businesses. 

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