Creating Boundaries with Your Time & Energy

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This season of slowing down is the perfect time to pause and take inventory of how you spend your time and energy.

Ask yourself:

• How am I spending my time right now?

• Do I feel good about where my energy is going?

• Does it light me up, or does it drain me?

• Where do I want to dedicate more of myself?

• What do I no longer want to feed with my time and energy?

These questions can open the door to clarity. They give you feedback about where you might need or want to create boundaries with your time and energy.

Now, I know that all of this sounds much easier said than done. Becoming aware is one thing. Putting it into practice is another. But the good news is that creating boundaries doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating. You don’t need to “get it right” on the first try. Boundaries are not about perfection. They are about progress, awareness, and honoring yourself in small but meaningful ways.

Step One: Evaluate and Build Awareness

The first step is simply noticing. Pause and reflect on the areas of your life where your time and energy feel aligned and where they don’t.

You might discover that you’re completely content with how much time you spend walking outside or talking with your partner, but you’re drained by endless scrolling on your phone or by overcommitting to social plans.

Awareness is powerful because it shines a light on what’s actually happening. Without judgment, notice what feels good and what feels off. That’s your starting point.

Step Two: Start Small

Once you have awareness, choose just one or two areas to shift. This is not about overhauling your entire life in one week. It’s about experimenting with small, intentional boundaries that support your wellbeing.

Some ideas:

• Take five minutes in your car before going inside after work to breathe deeply and reset your energy before transitioning into family time.

• Block off one evening a week that is reserved for rest, reading, or simply being.

• Decide not to check emails after 8 p.m. to protect your evening energy.

• Limit how many obligations you commit to in one weekend.

These small shifts may seem insignificant at first, but they create ripples. They begin to protect your time and energy in ways that feel supportive and sustainable.

Step Three: Adjust and Build on Your Success

Here’s the part most people forget: boundaries are not set in stone. They are meant to evolve as you evolve.

If something you try doesn’t work the way you hoped, that isn’t failure. It’s feedback. Adjusting your boundaries is part of the process. The more you experiment, the more you learn what supports you best.

Every boundary you test, whether it sticks or not, teaches you something valuable about your needs, your energy, and your priorities. That’s growth.

A Gentle Reminder

Creating boundaries with your time and energy does not have to be grand or overwhelming. It doesn’t require perfection. It can be as simple as five minutes of stillness, one “no” to an obligation, or turning your phone on silent before bed.

The truth is, boundaries are a must for protecting your wellbeing. But the way you create them can be flexible, compassionate, and deeply personal.

So give yourself permission to experiment. To learn. To adjust.

And most importantly, to remember that you are worthy of the time and energy you need to thrive.