You don’t need more time — you need stronger boundaries

Have you ever felt stretched too thin, overcommitted, or caught saying yes when you meant no?

It’s easy to assume the problem is time or energy.
We say things like:

“I need better time management…”
“I feel constantly tired…”
“I wish I could be more disciplined…”

Here’s the truth: this isn’t about time or energy. This is about boundaries.

Boundaries: Don't 'Set' Them — Recognise Them

Many believe we need to set boundaries. I disagree. Boundaries already exist, whether we realise it or not. Our role is to recognise, communicate, and protect them.

A boundary is a limit. It marks the edge of something - the end of one thing and the beginning of another.

Think of it like owning a piece of land. The boundary is registered at the deeds office. Whether or not you’ve built a wall, the boundary still exists.

The fence is a form of communication. It shows others where your space begins and ends. It also provides protection, not defence.

Your time, energy, attention, and values are your territory. They are finite in nature; there is a limit to your time, energy, and attention. Your boundaries exist to honour what matters to you. When you choose not to communicate and uphold those boundaries, it undermines you and the people who transgress your boundaries.

Allow me to elaborate....

Time and Energy Are Boundary Issues

If you:

Struggle to focus
Feel constantly interrupted
Carry guilt around saying no
Experience resentment or fatigue

You’re likely dealing with a boundary that needs to be communicated and upheld.

How to Honour Your Boundaries

Here’s how to start protecting what’s already yours:

Notice where your energy leaks

Your body and emotions will tell you exactly where a boundary is being crossed — if you’re willing to listen.

Start with this: Where do you feel consistently drained, resentful, or anxious?
These emotions are not weaknesses. They’re signals. Resentment often means you've said yes when you meant no. Fatigue may mean you're holding space for too many people or too much responsibility.

Look at:
- The people who leave you depleted rather than energised
- The places where your calendar is crowded with things that don’t matter
- The tasks or requests that spark internal resistance or dread
These are clues. Follow them.
Clarify what you’re protecting.

Before you can communicate a boundary, you must be clear on what you’re protecting. You’re not drawing lines to push others away — you’re drawing lines to honour what you value.

This might include:
- Your rest — the physical and emotional recovery you need to function well
- Your focus — the deep work that drives your purpose forward
- Your peace — your ability to feel calm, grounded, and emotionally safe
- Your presence — time with your children, your partner, or yourself, deserves to be undisturbed
Boundaries are about making space for the life you want, not defending the one you’re tolerating.
Use direct communication

Clarity is kindness. Indirect hints, overexplaining, or emotional guilt-tripping weaken your boundaries and confuse others. You don’t owe anyone a long explanation for putting your well-being front & centre. In fact, by prioritising your well-being, you can give more to others.

Practice saying:

“I won’t be available this weekend.”
“That doesn’t work for me.”
“I need to honour the space I’ve created for myself.”
“This is important to me, and I will protect it.”

This isn’t rude — it’s leadership.

4. Take aligned action

A boundary is only as strong as the action that backs it. If you communicate a boundary, then fail to honour it, others will learn that it’s optional. There is a lot of truth in the expression "You teach people how to treat you"

Protecting your boundaries in practice might mean:

Saying no to last-minute requests, even if it disappoints someone
Walking away from toxic conversations or dynamics
Turning off notifications during work or family time
Following through on what you said you would or wouldn’t do

Consistency builds trust in yourself and with others.

5. Lead without guilt

Here’s the truth many women need to hear: you are not responsible for other people’s discomfort when you honour your boundaries.

You’re allowed to want more rest and take it!
You’re allowed to not explain your decisions.
You’re allowed to choose your vision over someone else’s expectations.

Boundaries are not selfish. They are acts of self-leadership — grounded, clear, and essential for sustainable success.

The most aligned, productive, and joyful women I coach aren’t the ones who do the most. They’re the ones who know what’s theirs to hold — and what’s not. As I explain to my clients, "No! is a complete sentence"

🖤 Ready for Support?

If you're feeling pulled in too many directions, struggling to make space for what matters, or burning out trying to please everyone, it’s time to strengthen your boundaries.

In 1:1 coaching, we’ll work together to:

Identify the boundaries already present
Learn how to communicate them with clarity
Build a life that protects your energy, goals, and peace while also allowing you to give your gifts to the world.

🖤 Click below to apply for private coaching or reply to this email and and let’s explore what freedom looks like for you..

Apply for 1 :1 Coaching

📚 **Read to Rise: Boundaries for Leaders by Dr Henry Cloud**

This month, we’re introducing a new segment to the newsletter — Read to Rise.

Each month, we’ll recommend a book that inspires growth, challenges your thinking, and supports your journey to live and lead with more alignment, clarity, and courage.

Throughout the month, we’ll explore key themes from the book, share reflections, and offer practical ways to integrate the insights into your life and business. Whether you read along or take what resonates, this is your invitation to engage more deeply with the ideas that help us rise, one page at a time.

If boundaries are speaking to you this week, this month’s Read to Rise book is a must.

In Boundaries for Leaders, Dr Henry Cloud reveals how powerful leaders create safe, structured environments — not through control, but through clear boundaries that foster focus, trust, and sustainable growth.

It’s especially valuable if you lead a business, a team, or a household. You’ll learn how to:

Lead with clarity while avoiding overwhelm
Build environments that honour both people and performance
Stop rescuing others at the cost of yourself
Protect your mental and emotional energy as a leader

This isn’t about being hard — it’s about being intentional.

Get It Here 👉 Boundaries for Leaders

✨ ✨ One Month In: The Freedom Collective

It’s been one month since we opened the doors to The Freedom Collective — and the results speak for themselves.

The women inside are already shifting from scattered to strategic, from overwhelmed to aligned, from exhausted to energised. Here's what Ruth had to say....

I've had a SUPER productive time getting my website back up and starting to advertise again on the platforms I always did! And I've had 3 sales in the past 3 days 😅 yaaaay! I'm excited for tomorrow's session!

Inside the Collective, we combine bi-weekly coaching, powerful tools, and a community of ambitious women committed to doing life and business differently. If you're ready to: