How to set boundaries
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I know you’re balancing a million things—work meetings, school drop-offs, grocery lists, that one email you keep forgetting to respond to—and the fact that you pressed play today tells me something really important: You’re ready for things to be different. You’re ready to reclaim your time and take back your days. And I’m here for it.
If you’ve ever looked up at the end of the week and thought, Where did the time go?—you are not alone. And if you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, If I could just get a few extra hours… then maybe I could breathe—this episode is 100% for you.
Today, I’m talking about
- Why you always feel like you’re behind—even when you’re doing everything “right”
- The real reason planners, apps, and productivity hacks don’t stick
- What “Time Well Spent” actually means—and why it’s the key to finally feeling in control of your schedule
- A simple way to start reclaiming 10+ hours a week without burning out or giving up what matters most
My Story of Burnout
If you’ve been listening for a while, you might know that part of my story includes nearly a decade in the 24/7 world of crisis communications and government affairs. For a portion of that time, I was part of the Crisis team at a boutique PR firm in New Orleans—handling rapid-response communications for everything from parking garage protestors and university-wide layoffs to vandalism, embezzlement, and everything in between.
It was high-stakes, high-pressure, and honestly, it felt like the adrenaline never stopped.
During one particularly rough week—when everything was on fire—I was expected to be the one putting it all out… and doing it with a smile. I was working around the clock, glued to my laptop, answering emails at midnight, and juggling a million moving parts like it was just another Tuesday.
And yet, despite everything I was doing, I was still falling behind.
I remember rushing into a team meeting one morning—just a couple of minutes late—and eventually getting written up by my supervisor. Not for my performance. Not for missing a deadline. But for being late. Never mind that I’d been up until 2 a.m. working the night before.
That moment stuck with me.
Because I realized something important: I was so busy managing crisis situations for other people… that I’d slipped into crisis mode myself. And the scary part? I didn’t even notice it happening.
That kind of pace—always running, always reacting, always trying to stay one step ahead—just isn’t sustainable. Something had to change.
And maybe you’ve felt that too.
Friend, You’re Not the Problem
You’ve tried the planners. You’ve downloaded the apps. You’ve pinned all the productivity hacks. Maybe you even had a streak going for a while—everything color-coded, scheduled, and organized…
But then life happened.
Someone got sick. A last-minute work thing popped up. The laundry piled up. A curveball hit you out of nowhere. And suddenly, that “perfect plan” just didn’t fit anymore.
Before you knew it, you were back in the swirl—juggling, overcommitted, wondering why you can’t seem to stay on top of things no matter how hard you try.
It’s so easy in those moments to blame yourself. To think: I’m just not disciplined enough. I need to try harder. Everyone else seems to be doing it—what’s wrong with me?
But friend, let me tell you right now: You are not the problem.
It’s not that you’re bad at time management. It’s that the system you were handed? That’s what’s broken.
We’ve been taught that time management is about squeezing more in, checking more boxes, doing it all, and somehow staying sane and smiling for the camera.
But no one ever stopped to ask: What actually matters to you?
Because that’s where everything starts to shift.
So what is the alternative? If the traditional approach to time management doesn’t work—what does?
Time Well Spent
This is where I want to introduce a simple, powerful idea that has become a cornerstone of how I live and how I work. It’s something I call Time Well Spent.
Because here’s the truth: Time management isn’t just about getting more done.
It’s about getting the right things done. It’s not about cramming more into your calendar—it’s about creating a rhythm that reflects what actually matters to you.
It’s about stepping out of survival mode and stepping into a way of life where your energy has direction and your time has purpose.
Let me tell you about Lauren—she’s a former client and busy business owner, running a growing company while also raising her kids. When we started working together, her days were jam-packed. She was always “on” and constantly reacting to what everyone else needed. Sound familiar?
But once she got clear on what “Time Well Spent” meant for her, everything shifted.
She started blocking out focused CEO time on her calendar—time just for big-picture thinking and strategic planning. She stopped filling her afternoons with back-to-back meetings. And most importantly, she reclaimed her evenings—time she now spends with her family, fully present.
She didn’t become more disciplined. She didn’t find some magical extra hours in the day. She just started managing her time based on what actually mattered.
And that’s the belief I want to plant for you today:
When you begin managing your time around your values—your energy, your focus, your priorities—you’ll stop spinning your wheels.
You’ll stop feeling behind. And slowly, your schedule starts working for you instead of against you.
What is the Time Well Spent Workshop?
So if you’re listening right now thinking, Yes—I want that. I want to spend my time on what really matters… but I’m not sure where to start, I’ve got something just for you.
On September 17th at 12:00 p.m. Central, I’m hosting a brand-new live workshop called:
👉 Time Well Spent: How to Reclaim 10+ Hours a Week Without Sacrificing What Matters Most.
We’re going to dig deeper into everything we’ve talked about today—and I’ll walk you through the exact process I’ve used with clients to help them find more breathing room in their schedules, without burning out or giving up the things they love.
Here’s what you’ll learn during the workshop:
✨ What’s actually keeping you stuck in the swirl—even when you feel like you’re doing everything “right”
✨ Why traditional time management advice keeps falling flat (and what to do instead)
✨ And I’ll introduce my simple, proven framework—called HEART—that shows you how to reclaim 10+ hours each week and finally create a schedule that fits your life
And just so we’re clear—this isn’t a session full of quick tips or “do more faster” advice. This is something different.
This is a collaborative, intentional space to think differently about your time—to get honest about what matters, what’s working, and what needs to change.
It’s not about adding more to your plate. It’s about designing a rhythm that gives you room to breathe—and a system you can actually stick with.
I’ve seen this process completely transform the way women work, live, and lead—and I would love for you to be part of it.
Save Your Spot in the Time Well Spent Workshop
If your ears perked up when I said “reclaim 10 hours a week,” and you’re thinking, Okay, I’m in, here’s what to do next:
Head over to 👉 abouttimeworkshop.com to save your spot for the Time Well Spent Workshop happening on September 17th at 12:00 p.m. Central.
It’s completely free to attend, and spots are limited—so the sooner you register, the better. These workshops tend to fill up quickly, and I don’t want you to miss it.
And something else you should know: This is the first free workshop I’ve offered in a few years—and I’m honestly not sure when I’ll host another one. So if this message is resonating with you, now is the time to join us.
Even if you can’t make it live, still go ahead and register. I’ll send out the replay to everyone who signs up so you can watch it when it works best for you.
And since we’re meeting right at noon, feel free to bring your lunch! This is a cozy, come-as-you-are kind of session. Whether you’re tuning in from your kitchen table, your parked car, or between meetings—I’ve got you.
I’d love to see your name pop up in the chat. Let me know where you’re tuning in from, what’s on your plate (literally and figuratively), and what you’re hoping to walk away with.
This isn’t just another thing on your to-do list. It’s a step toward making space for what really matters.
What Would You Do with 10 Extra Hours This Week?
Before you go, I want to leave you with one simple question:
What would you do with 10 extra hours this week?
Would you finally start that thing you’ve been putting off?
Would you spend a full afternoon with your kids—without checking your phone?
Would you rest, without guilt?
Would you just… breathe?
Whatever your answer is, let that be your “why.”
Because that vision—that feeling—is exactly why this workshop matters.
If you’re craving a schedule that reflects what matters most to you, one that gives you breathing room, clarity, and direction, I hope you’ll join me for Time Well Spent on September 17th at noon. Save your seat at abouttimeworkshop.com!
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