How to Use Healthy Boundaries to Lower Stress

The Silent Productivity Killer No One Wants to Talk About As we mark Stress Awareness Month, I'm calling out the elephant in the professional room: the toxic dance between #stress and #anxiety that's destroying our potential. Here are three radical ways to reclaim your mental space: ✅ 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿. Constant availability isn't hustle. It's self-destruction. When you protect your time and energy, you're not being difficult - you're managing your anxiety and preserving your mental health. 👉 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Create dedicated focus blocks in your calendar where meetings are off-limits. This is your time for deep, meaningful work that actually moves the needle and provides relief from mounting professional anxieties. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵. Your value isn't measured by how quickly you respond or how many meetings you attend. Anxiety thrives in constant comparison and perpetual performance mode. 👉 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Carve out regular reflection time to review your genuine progress. Disconnect from the noise, challenge your anxious thoughts, and reconnect with your actual goals and achievements. ✅ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿. High performance isn't about endurance. It's about sustainable energy and protecting your most valuable resource - your mental clarity and emotional well-being. 👉 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal time. Create a shutdown ritual that signals the end of your workday, helps quiet anxious thoughts, and allows you to disconnect and recharge truly. -- Burnout does NOT make you stronger. Anxiety does NOT define your worth. They drain your potential. Productivity isn't about doing more. It's about doing what matters while protecting your mental health. Coaching can help; let's chat. | Follow Joshua Miller #StressAwarenessMonth #MentalHealth #ProfessionalGrowth

✨No is a complete sentence.✨ 🤔 So why does it feel so hard to say? For many Women of Color, setting boundaries at work and with family often feels like walking a tightrope. Between cultural expectations, the pressure to overperform, and the emotional labor of supporting others, it’s easy to put your needs last. But here’s the truth: boundaries are an act of self-preservation—and they’re non-negotiable. As we roll into the season of holidays and "Let's finish out Q4 strong!" here are a few tips that I hope support your boundaries and honor your needs too. 1. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Your value is not derived from how productive you are or what you do for others. 2. 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 In some cultures, boundaries are viewed as confrontational or selfish. Reframe them for yourself and others as acts of love and sustainability. 3. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁. Rest and joy are acts of resistance in a world that often expects you to overwork. 4. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 & 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 Speak assertively but with warmth to navigate cultural or workplace dynamics that may resist boundary-setting. 5. 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 Setting boundaries may disappoint or surprise others, especially if they’re used to you being the go-to person. That's OK—your needs are just as important as theirs. 6. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 Start with smaller steps to ease your transition into setting boundaries and protecting your energy. 7. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 Surround yourself with people who respect your boundaries. 8. 𝗦𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼 (𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆) “No” doesn’t have to mean a hard stop. Offer alternatives when possible to remain aligned with your values. What other tips would you add? Share them in the comments. 🧡 ♻️ Repost to share with others. _______________________________________________________________ Struggling with boundaries in work and life? I can help. Setup time to chat here: https://lnkd.in/gPGdqta6

Boundaries aren't barriers, they’re bridges to better productivity and balance. As Chiefs of Staff or Executive Assistants (or any role where we support an executive), we often juggle endless priorities and demands. Someone told me yesterday that they "heard" Chiefs of Staff have 60+ hour work weeks! 😬 😆 Maybe... if they're doing it wrong... The truth is effectiveness doesn’t come from doing everything. It comes from doing the RIGHT things *while* protecting your time, energy, and focus. That’s where boundaries come in. They’re not about saying "no" all the time— they’re about creating clarity, alignment, and space for what truly matters. Here are some important boundaries that can transform how you work (swipe through to see the what, why, and how behind these!): 1️⃣ Availability Boundaries Define when you’re accessible and how quickly you respond. Setting working hours and response times helps you protect personal time and focus. 2️⃣ Time Boundaries Guard your schedule to focus on high-priority tasks. Block time for deep work and use shared calendars to communicate your availability. 3️⃣ Emotional Boundaries Separate your emotions from work dynamics. Protect yourself from absorbing unnecessary stress or conflicts that aren’t yours to resolve. 4️⃣ Responsibility Boundaries Clarify what tasks you own and what should be handled by others. This prevents overextension and ensures you’re working on high-impact priorities. 5️⃣ Communication Boundaries Structure how and when communication happens. Batch questions, use agendas, and set expectations for response times to avoid inefficiencies. ➡️ When you set boundaries, you’re not just protecting yourself, you’re also creating a more ⭐️ structured, ⭐️ efficient, and ⭐️ effective work environment for everyone around you. Which boundary has been the most game-changing for you? Or which one do you want to set moving forward? Let’s discuss below! === 🔔 Be sure to follow me Melanie Jones The Chief of Staff Coach™, for more insights on how to be more effective in your role! ♻️ Repost to help spread awareness about effective boundaries

The most common question I get about  boundaries in the workplace: “𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀?”  Before you can create boundaries,  ↳you need to know what they are.  𝘓𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯. A boundary is a clear line  ↳that defines what’s okay and what isn’t.  It helps protect the following: 📌time 📌energy 📌well-being.  Without boundaries, it’s easy to feel  overworked, overwhelmed, and undervalued.  𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿?  They allow you to be:   ⇢ Productive   ⇢ Focused   ⇢ Respected   ⇢ Emotionally balanced   ⇢ Energized   ⇢ Healthy  𝘚𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴?  1️⃣ Identify your limits  - Know what drains your energy and what restores it.  2️⃣ Communicate your boundaries clearly  - Example: “I’m unavailable for calls after 6 PM.”  3️⃣ Set realistic expectations with others   - Let colleagues know when and how you can be reached.  4️⃣ Practice saying ‘no’ with kindness   - Saying no to one thing is saying yes to yourself.  5️⃣ Hold yourself accountable - Stick to your boundaries, even when it’s uncomfortable.     (And respect others' boundaries!) 6️⃣ Give self space to grow - Boundaries evolve—check in and make changes as necessary.  𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸?  Boundaries require us to reflect deeply on what we need to protect.  👀 Notice where you feel resentful or drained.   ❓ Ask yourself what you need to change.   🫶 Honor your needs without guilt.   😫 Embrace the discomfort of setting limits.   💗 Celebrate when you follow through on boundaries.   💪 Take responsibility for communicating them effectively.  Boundaries aren't barriers—𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀  to better relationships and well-being.  The more you respect your own boundaries, the more others will, too.  What’s one boundary you could set today that your future self will thank you for? ----- I’m Julia LeFevre. I help leaders turn divided teams into dream teams using NeuroChange. Click my name + follow  ♻️ Repost this → spread value 🙌✨

As high-achievers, we often push ourselves relentlessly. However, burnout is real and can sabotage our productivity and well-being. That's why I've made it non-negotiable to take time for myself each day to recharge. For me, this means closing the laptop, putting my phone away, and doing something solely for myself—whether it's working out in my garage gym, taking a walk, or learning a new skill. This personal time allows me to reset and return to work feeling refreshed and focused. Setting communication boundaries is also crucial. You don't have to respond to emails, DMs, or texts the second someone else decides to send them. While it may feel uncomfortable at first, establishing these guardrails is vital for sustainable success. I encourage you to examine your own boundaries: • Where can you start saying "no" to work demands during personal time? • How can you be more intentional about unplugging? Don't let the grind consume you! Prioritize your mental health, and you'll be amazed at how it boosts your overall performance. How do you recharge and reset? ------------------------ Hi, I'm Michelle. I'm a former fighter pilot turned speaker, author, and coach. If you found this helpful, consider reposting ♻️ and follow me for more content like this.

Tired of feeling used? Here's how to take back your power... Ever feel like no matter how much you give, you’re just getting taken for granted? I’ve been there. For most of my life, I've had a habit of doing favors for others, thinking it was necessary to strengthen relationships, driven by an overdeveloped and, you might say, dysfunctional sense of duty. But here’s the truth: “No good deed goes unpunished.” I decided enough was enough. It became time to kill off my inner voice that compelled me to always assist, to always feel guilty when I didn't. Here’s how I overhauled my mindset to reclaim my freedom, abandoning a self-defeating sense of duty: 🟢 I prioritized myself first This isn't about being selfish. It's a call to action to stop putting others’ needs above your own. Your time and energy are valuable. 🟢 I set clear boundaries This is a core philosophy I preach: Learn to say "No" without feeling guilty. You can say "no" in many ways without sounding harsh, but the key part of the message should include "no" or a synonym each time. And there's no need to be wordy. Plain sentences work best. Remember that boundaries aren’t walls—they’re clear lines that show others how to treat us. 🟢 I valued my time When you help someone it should be worth your while. If it’s not mutually beneficial, it’s okay to walk away. 🟢 Cultivate mutual respect Surround yourself with people who respect your boundaries and value your contributions. Relationships are built on mutual support, not one-sided favors. 🟢 Focus on quality over quantity It’s better to have a few meaningful connections than countless superficial ones. 🟢 Let go of guilt Feeling guilty for not helping someone is unnecessary. Your primary responsibility is to yourself and your own goals. The result? ✔ Increased productivity. With clear boundaries, I can focus on what truly matters. ✔ Stronger relationships. Mutual respect has strengthened my connections. ✔ Greater freedom. No longer chained by as many obligations, I’m free to pursue my passions and dreams. Final thoughts... Life is too short to be weighed down by endless favors and unreciprocated efforts. Take control. Set boundaries. Value your time. Your future self will thank you. ♻ to your network. Tap the 🔔 for more.

WednesdayQ&A “I often give others a lot more than I give to myself. I always try to help, and requests never finish. Everyone asks me for something, and I try to help, but I feel exhausted and overwhelmed because I don't have enough time for my own stuff. How can I stop accommodating the requests without hurting relationships?” It sounds like you haven’t established clear boundaries, and it’s something many people struggle with. Setting boundaries is essential to protecting your time and energy, both in your personal and professional life. Start by asking yourself: Where do I want my boundaries to be? Why do I find it hard to say no? Is it because I fear disappointing others or because I feel validated by being needed? Understanding your patterns is the first step. Next, communicate your boundaries—because people won’t know them unless you share them. A great way to start a conversation without confrontation is using a method I’ve learned from Rob Dial. Ask permission: “Can I talk to you about something?”Most likely, people will respond positively. Then, calmly say, “I’m going to be honest.” This creates a respectful space to share your needs, like: “I’ve realized I’ve been overextending myself and need to focus more on my priorities. I’ll still help when I can, but I might not always be available immediately. I hope you understand.” Boundaries are not one-time declarations—you may need to remind people from time to time gently. That’s okay! Teaching others how to treat you takes consistency. To live a fulfilling life, you need to protect your energy and make time for what truly matters to you. Remember, saying no to someone else is often saying yes to yourself. #boundaries #sayingno #loveyourlife

As a coach, I’ve observed that the number one struggle leaders face is setting healthy boundaries. 🚧 In leadership, the desire to help and support others is immense. We often find ourselves going the extra mile, pouring endless energy into our teams and projects. However, this commitment can sometimes blur the lines, making it difficult to establish and maintain healthy boundaries. Here’s what I’ve learned and what I coach others to recognize: ✍️ 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀: Knowing your capacity is crucial. You can’t be everything to everyone. Recognize when your cup is running dry and take time to replenish. ✍️ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆: Set expectations with your team and colleagues about what you can and cannot do. Clear communication prevents misunderstandings and burnout. ✍️ 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲: Your well-being is vital to your effectiveness as a leader. Don’t sacrifice your health and happiness at the altar of leadership. Make time for yourself to recharge. ✍️ 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆-𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: Show your team that it’s okay to set boundaries. Leading by example helps others feel comfortable doing the same. ✍️ 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: Strive for a balance between giving and protecting your time and energy. Healthy boundaries enhance your ability to lead effectively and sustainably. Leadership isn't just about giving; it’s also about knowing when to step back and protect your own resources. Embrace the challenge of setting healthy boundaries—it’s a sign of strength, not weakness. #Leadership #HealthyBoundaries #SelfCare #EffectiveLeadership #PersonalGrowth #YourHealthcareConsultant #SoundLeadershipWithDJ