Mon 30 / 03 / 26
How to set boundaries as a business owner
Lyndsey Segal, from Heads-up Coaching, shares her insight on setting healthier boundaries as a business owner.
By Lyndsey Segal of Heads-up Coaching
It's 9 PM. You are on the sofa, but your mind is on tomorrow's client meeting. Your phone buzzes with a work email and you feel that familiar pull to respond right now.
One of the biggest challenges business owners face is feeling like they are always 'on'.
It can be hard to create clear demarcations between work and life and switch off from work. Therefore, setting boundaries are essential for your productivity, wellbeing and the success of your business.
In this blog post, I am going to help you set boundaries – without feeling guilty.
Start with your non-negotiables
The first step is to identify what you need to protect - your non-negotiables. These are the lines you won't cross, even when it's tempting or inconvenient.
These might include set work hours, no weekend client calls, family dinners without your phone or a full day off each week.
Be specific with your boundaries. ‘Less meetings’ is vague but "no client meetings after 5 PM or before 9 AM" is clear and actionable.
Your non-negotiables will be personal. A parent might prioritise being home for dinner. Someone managing a
chronic illness might need midday breaks. There is no universal right answer, just what is right for you.
Say no (without feeling guilty)
This is where many business owners struggle. Saying no might feel like you are turning away opportunities or being unhelpful.
Try reframing saying no as saying yes to something or someone else – whether it is your health, family, another commitment or ability to do your best work.
If you find saying no difficult or are a people pleaser, try these suggestions:
- Be clear and direct: “I am not available for meetings after 6pm.”
- Use I statements: “I need to pick up my child from school at 3pm.”
- Be honest: “My schedule is full for the next two weeks but I can start the new project after then.”
- Offer solutions: “I am not available on that date but I am available on these dates instead.”
Protecting your time and energy means being selective about where you invest them.
Before accepting a new project, meeting, or responsibility, ask yourself:
- Does this serve my most important goals?
- Will this energise or deplete me?
Communicate your boundaries with confidence
When you communicate your boundaries, you set clear expectations.
These might be using booking software that shows your available hours. Or including your working hours in your email signature and in initial client conversations e.g. I work Monday-Thursday or I respond to emails within 24 hours.
Some business owners use visual signals such as noise-cancelling headphones or a specific object on their desk to show they are in deep work mode.
When working from home, it can be useful to hang a Do not disturb sign on your door to keep family members or housemates away. Just remember to take it off when you are finished!
Switch off to be switched on
One of the biggest challenges of being a business owner is being able to mentally disconnect from work. There is always so much to do!
Establishing a clear end-of-day routine will help separate work from life.
At the end of each day, review what you accomplished and plan tomorrow's top three priorities.
You may find shutting down your computer or putting your laptop away removes temptation to check your email or do more work later.
Physically step away from your workspace and do something to signify that you have finished work for the day. This might be going for a run or walk, taking a shower, meeting a friend or preparing the evening meal. This is particularly important when working from home.
Use evenings and weekends for hobbies, time to connect with family and friends and to make time for other interests outside of your business. This will help you return to work feeling rested and recharged.
Going on holiday and visiting new places helps create distance from your business and offers new perspectives.
Review your boundaries
As your business evolves, so will your needs. Review your boundaries regularly to see if anything needs changing or adapting.
Ask yourself:
- What is working?
- What is draining me?
- What needs to change?
Pick one boundary to implement this week. Notice how it feels. Then build from there. Your future self and your business will thank you!
Lyndsey Segal is a Business Coach, Trainer and Speaker and the founder of Heads-up Coaching. You can find out more on her website here.
This is part of a new series we’re running with Chamber members, picking out different experts working in the areas of business you most frequently ask us for advice or expertise on. Keep your eyes peeled for more installments on finance, marketing, sales, productivity and more.
If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk