Boundaries, Balance, and Being Brave Enough to Say No
Let’s talk boundaries. Not the white picket fence kind, but the ones that protect your time, energy, and sanity — especially when you run your own business, or work from home like we do at Offsiters.
We’re big believers in work/life balance. Not just because it’s trendy, but because it’s essential. Without boundaries, work seeps into dinner time, school pickups, and even those precious few minutes of silence between bedtime stories and collapsing on the couch. And once it’s seeped in, it’s so hard to push it back out.
Why boundaries matter
When we talk about boundaries, we don’t mean bubble baths and saying “no” to every little thing. We mean knowing your limits, being upfront about them, and having the confidence to protect your time and energy. Because when you respect your own boundaries, others are more likely to respect them too.
For us, that looks like:
Only working within school hours (yep, no late-night text messages here)
Prioritising our team's wellbeing above all else
Choosing to work with clients who genuinely align with our values
A real-life example: when it’s time to walk away
Not long ago, we had to part ways with a client. It wasn’t a decision we made lightly—this was someone we genuinely liked and had worked with for a while. But over time, it became clear that their expectations were creeping outside the boundaries we set from the get-go.
We tried to reset expectations and streamline the workflow—offering solutions and encouraging open communication along the way. But the constant back-and-forth was pulling the VA away from her other clients, and despite our best efforts, things just weren’t improving.
We could see that our values weren’t lining up. So instead of bending over backwards or burning our team out trying to fix it, we took a deep breath and hit “send” on a polite, professional farewell email.
Was it easy? Nope.
Was it the right call? Absolutely.
Because here’s the truth: when you honour your boundaries, you create space for better fits, better work, and better energy all round.
Real-world tips for better boundaries
If you’re trying to protect your own work/life balance (and we highly recommend it), here are a few practical tips to get started:
🕒 Set clear working hours – and stick to them. Whether it’s 9-2 or 9-5, make it known when you’re available—and when you’re not.
📱 Silence those notifications – your phone doesn’t need to be your boss. Use ‘Do Not Disturb’ or schedule downtime. It works wonders.
📝 Communicate early and often – the sooner you set expectations with clients or colleagues, the smoother things go. It avoids surprises and saves awkward convos later.
🚪 Say no when it matters – not every opportunity is the right one. Sometimes, the most empowering thing you can do is politely decline.
👯♀️ Surround yourself with the right people – clients, teammates, even friends. Look for those who get your boundaries and respect them without question.
Boundaries aren’t about being difficult—they’re about sustainability. And for us, they’re the secret sauce that lets us show up, do great work, and still have energy left for everything else life throws our way.
So here’s your reminder:
You don’t need to do it all, be everywhere, or answer every email within 2.5 minutes. Protect your balance, honour your values, and don’t be afraid to walk away from what doesn’t feel right.
Your future, less-frazzled self will thank you.
Also, side note: we're experts at boundary maintenance, so reach out if you need help maintaining yours!