How to Set Boundaries When you Work for Yourself

Working for yourself comes with a bunch of awesome upsides. You choose when, where, for whom, and how you work. Workation by the beach, anyone?

But the downside of all this freedom is that you’re the one in charge, and it’s up to you to make sure you can pay your bills at the end of the month. It can be tempting to spend all your free time working, especially if you love what you do.

Burnout is real, and overworking can mean you’re not producing your best work for your clients. It’s ESSENTIAL to learn to set your own boundaries. 

But how do you do that when you work for yourself?

Get clarity on what matters to YOU

Everyone is different, and while some people think working on the weekend is a total no-go, it might work well for you. 

It’s a question of trying out different options, and seeing what feels right. Maybe you want a free 2 hours on Tuesday afternoon, so you don’t mind working for a while on Sunday evening. You might hate mornings, but work super well in the evening. Whatever it is, make sure you’re doing what works well for you.

Keep it separate

If you’re very personally invested in your business, it can be difficult to keep a mental separation between work and life. 

To help you set clear boundaries, keep your personal life separate from your business as much as possible. Have 2 phones and only give clients your work number, have separate email and social media accounts, and have 2 different bank accounts (you’ll thank me when it comes to tax season…).

Communicate, communicate, and communicate some more

Once you’ve set your boundaries, it’s up to you to enforce them. People always try and take advantage of each other, whether or not it’s done intentionally. 

Communicate your boundaries clearly and firmly, and don’t hesitate to remind people of your boundaries if they overstep them.

Set an OOO for when you’re not working, and let your clients know you won’t be responsible between certain hours each day or each week. And most important: make sure YOU stick to your boundaries – or else no one else will.