Better Business Routines and Setting Healthy Boundaries
Let’s be real for a second—running a business can sometimes feel like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle. There’s client work, emails, marketing, finances, family time, and oh yeah… self-care (what’s that again?).
If you’ve ever thought “I’m so busy, but why doesn’t it feel like I’m moving forward in my business?”—you’re not alone. The truth is, being busy isn’t the same as being productive. And that’s where routines and boundaries come in.
Start with What Matters Most
Here’s the thing: your routines should reflect your values. If family, freedom, or health are what matter most to you, your business should support—not compete with—those things.
Your priorities flow directly from your values. Maybe that looks like leaving Fridays open for family, or carving out time every morning for movement and reflection. Whatever it is, the goal is to build a business that aligns with the life you actually want.
The Magic of 168 Hours
We all get the same 168 hours each week. A big chunk goes to sleeping, eating, and household stuff. That means you realistically have maybe around 30–40 hours to devote to your business. (sometimes MORE, if you’re just starting off and need to build your client base and sometimes LESS if you have other priorities to juggle, like uber’ing kids around)
The question isn’t How do I do more? —it’s “How do I use my time more intentionally?”
I am huge follower of the famous Author, speaker and blogger, Laura Vanderkam, who specializes in Time management, and her infamous Ted talk on How to gain control of your Free time. It’s a good listen that can provide some more insight to this question.
Busy vs. Productive (Yep, There’s a Difference)
If you want to start reclaiming your time back, try these quick tips:
✨ Set business hours that you’ll actually stick to.
If you run a brick and mortar business, you’d say - I’m open Monday - Friday, 9 am - 6 pm (for example) and STAY CONSISTENT.
If it’s a service business that you have, you will want to do the same exact thing. For example: Open Tuesday - Saturday 10:30 am - 4 pm and Wednesday to Friday after 4 pm by appointment only. Remember, you get to decide what your work hours are and make it routine.
✨ Embrace the “split shift” if a traditional 9–5 doesn’t fit your life.
AND Cater to what your customers needs are. For example, if you’re like a chiropractor, interior designer, or tax accountant and majority of your clients want “AFTER work” hours, maybe your work hours look more like, Tuesday - Thursday 8am - 12pm (with a 3-4 hour break in between). Then you are open again from 4pm - 8pm in the evening and weekends to do “after work” consults with clients.
✨ Work from a specific spot (even if it’s the corner of your bedroom) to SIGNAL that you are in “Work mode”.
Place a sign to avoid unexpected interruptions from your household, even if it’s a taped index card stating “In the Office” to your laptop. You could even inform them of your official “work hours”.
✨ Use the 4D Method: Do it, Delegate it, Defer it, or Drop it.
Do it - if it takes 20 minutes or less; Delegate it - if it’s not a task or activity that you enjoy; Defer it - if it is not a priority for you this week, month, or year; and Drop it - if it’s not in alignment with your vision, values, or goals.
Healthy Boundaries That Protect Your Energy
Boundaries aren’t walls—they’re doors you get to open or close on your terms. Some of my favorite ones:
💻 Digital Diet → Be intentional with your online time. Use it for growth, not endless doom scrolling (as my son would call it).
🙅 The Power of “No” (or “Not Right Now”) → Every “no” means you are saying “YES” to something else. (which sometimes saying YES to your boundaries and self-care instead, may be protecting your own sanity)
🧘 Mental Pit Stops → Just five minutes of breathing, journaling, or stretching and stillness can reset your entire day.
Ready to Try This?
Here’s my challenge for you: pick three (3) small steps above you can take today to create a better routine and healthier boundaries for yourself. It could be as simple as shutting your laptop at 6pm, blocking off time for a walk, or finally delegating that one task you’ve been hanging on to, to your spouse or VA (virtual assistant).
Remember—imperfect action is still action.
Looking for support while building routines that actually work for you (and not against you)? Let’s chat! I offer a complimentary 75-minute strategy session where we can dive into your existing business routine and create a plan that feels doable and energizing.
✨ You’ve got this. You’re more capable (and more in control of your time) than you think.
I’ll be cheering you on.
P.S. Want to know my own favorite “micro-boundary”? I set a timer for 50 minutes of focus and then give myself a 10-minute break to stretch, refill my coffee, or step outside. It’s amazing how much you can get done when you give yourself permission to not power through endlessly. Try it this week and let me know how it goes!