How to set boundaries
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Have you ever looked at your calendar, wanting to reclaim your time, and thought, “There’s no way I can add one more thing”— while also wondering how everything feels so out of control anyway?
Like, you’re doing all the things, checking all the boxes, maybe even color-coding your planner—and yet, you still feel like you’re treading water… just trying to keep from going under?
And the idea of taking time to get your life in order? Yeah, that sounds great—in theory.
But in real life? You’ve got responsibilities to juggle, people to take care of, and things that actually have to get done. Now.
If that sounds familiar, you’re in the right place. Because what if the thing you think you don’t have time for… is actually the thing that could give you your time back?
Today, we’re talking about one of the biggest time traps out there: overwhelm.
More specifically—we’re talking about why it happens, what it’s really costing you, and why the key to getting out of it isn’t more time—it’s more clarity.
Now—if you’ve been tuning in recently, you know that registration is officially open for the Take Back Your Time Challenge, kicking off May 12th.
And if it’s been sitting in the back of your mind—something you meant to look into, something that sparked a little curiosity but you weren’t quite sure?
Consider this your sign. Because registration closes in one week.
And if you’ve been stuck in the loop of “I’m too busy to get un-busy”… This episode is exactly what you need.
In this episode, I’m talking about:
- Why overwhelm isn’t about doing too much—it’s about not being clear on what matters most
- The three different ways overwhelm shows up (and how to know which one you’re living in)
- A powerful mindset shift that can help you reclaim your time without overhauling your whole life
- And a simple practice you can start today to trade friction for clarity
Time Wasn’t the Problem
There was a time in my life when I truly believed that if I could just find the right planner, or the right app, or finally figure out how to wake up at 5AM and stick to it… Then I’d feel on top of things. Then I’d stop feeling like I was always behind.
I was saying yes to everything—work, social events, volunteer opportunities, you name it. And on the outside, it looked like I was doing fine.
Honestly? I looked like a go-getter.
But I didn’t feel like one.
I felt like I was barely holding it all together with duct tape and coffee.
I was exhausted, constantly second-guessing myself, and silently beating myself up for not being able to keep up.
I would finish one task and immediately jump into the next without ever really stopping to ask… “Do I even need to be doing this?”
I was managing my time, sure—but I wasn’t managing my energy.
I wasn’t clear on my priorities. And because of that, everything felt urgent. Everything felt equally important.
And when everything’s urgent? Nothing actually gets your full attention.
I remember one day looking at my calendar and realizing—I had built a life I didn’t even enjoy.
A full calendar, but an empty sense of peace.
That was the moment I realized: The problem wasn’t my calendar. The problem was that I didn’t know what actually mattered most.
Andree’s Story
And I know I’m not alone.
Take my client, Andree, for example.
At first glance, her schedule didn’t look all that different from anyone else’s— She was busy, and she was keeping up. Barely. As in, she felt like she was barely keeping her head above water.
But when we sat down together and did an inventory of how she was actually spending her time, she had this moment where she just… paused.
She realized she had said yes to a lot of things that sounded good in the moment— Things that aligned with who she used to be, or who she thought she should be…
But they didn’t actually line up with where she wanted to go.
And once she got crystal clear on her vision for the future— What she wanted her life to feel like, what she wanted her time to reflect—
It was obvious: some of those things had to go.
Not because she was failing. But because she was growing.
And when you grow, you make space for something even better.
Why You Feel Overwhelmed
So what’s really going on when you feel completely overwhelmed?
Why is it that no matter how many to-do lists you write, or how early you wake up, or how hard you push—
You still feel like there’s just not enough time?
Here’s the truth:
You’re not overwhelmed because you’re doing it wrong. You’re overwhelmed because you’re doing it all without clarity.
And when you don’t have clarity—about your priorities, your capacity, your season of life— Everything feels urgent. Everything feels like a “yes.” Even the things that don’t deserve your time.
Which One Feels Most Like You?
There’s the woman who’s in full-blown survival mode. She cries in the car, she’s constantly apologizing, and she says things like,
“I don’t even know where to begin.”
Then there’s the woman who’s high-functioning overwhelmed.
From the outside? She’s holding it together. But inside, she’s juggling way too much and whispering to herself, “I just need to get more efficient.”
And then there’s the woman who hasn’t even realized she’s drowning yet. She’s overcommitted, overbooked, and over it— But she keeps saying, “It’s just a busy season. It’ll slow down soon.”
But it doesn’t. And deep down, she knows that.
If any of those stories sounded familiar— The woman in survival mode, the high-functioning overwhelmed one, or the one who keeps hoping the pace will slow down…
I want you to take a moment and ask yourself: Which one feels most like me right now?
And if none of them feel exactly right—that’s okay, too.
Maybe you’re not in full-on burnout, but you still feel a constant friction.
That low hum of stress, the sense that something’s off—even if you can’t quite put your finger on it.
You’re doing all the right things, but it’s not clicking. Not flowing.
Or maybe you’ve been on autopilot for so long, you haven’t had a second to feel anything. You’re just moving from one thing to the next.
Wherever you are, I want you to hear this loud and clear: You’re not the problem. You’re just missing clarity.
And once you begin to see things clearly, everything starts to shift.
How to Reclaim Your Time: Start Paying Attention
So here’s a gentle practice I want to offer you this week:
Start paying attention. Start noticing where your time and energy are actually going.
You don’t need a spreadsheet or a planner. You don’t even have to write it down—though you can if that helps.
Just begin to build awareness.
Notice where there’s friction. What feels heavy? What’s draining you, frustrating you, or making you feel stuck?
And then—notice what feels light. What gives you energy? What aligns with who you are and where you want to go?
Because when you start to see those things clearly, you can start making choices that create space—not take it away.
Clarity isn’t about having a perfect plan. It’s about finally seeing what’s real.
And that clarity? That’s what creates capacity.
Overwhelm is a Sign Something Needs to Shift
Overwhelm isn’t a sign that you’re failing—it’s a sign that something needs to shift. And most of the time, it’s not your time that needs to change—it’s your clarity.
Clarity gives you the power to make better decisions. To let go of the things that don’t align. To create more space, more peace, and more capacity in your everyday life.
And if you’re craving that clarity— If you’ve been nodding along with this episode and thinking, “Yes. This is me.” Then I want to personally invite you to join me for the Take Back Your Time Challenge, kicking off May 12th.
Registration is open now, but it closes in just one week. So now’s the time.
It’s a meaningful investment in yourself, your time, and your peace— And it’s designed to help you get clear on what matters most, and build a rhythm that works for your real life.
Not the one you wish you had, but the one you’re living in right now.
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