Rise & Shine: The Boundaries You Set Shape the Life You Live
Happy Monday,
Let’s talk about boundaries. Not the “nice to have” kind, but the ones that protect your time, energy, and well-being. The ones that allow you to show up fully present—for yourself, your family, and your career.
I know what it’s like not to have them.
👉 I’ve been on family vacations where I started each day by checking emails, sending a few Slacks, and handling “just a couple of things” before we went out for the day.
👉 I’ve been at family dinners, answering messages and barely listening to my kids tell me about their day—mentally stuck in work mode, already planning for tomorrow.
👉 And I’ll never forget one Thanksgiving, we were out of town at my in-laws, in a hotel room, when my son spiked a 103-degree fever. Not only that, but then work called and needed help NOW! Instead of being fully present for him and protecting time with my family, I was trying to juggle work calls about Black Friday website issues—trying to be a great mom and a great employee all at once. I had ZERO boundaries back then and realized I couldn't do it ALL at the SAME time.
Why Do We Let This Happen?
Because we’re chasing:
🔹 The next title
🔹 The next promotion
🔹 The bigger salary
🔹 The “over and above” annual performance rating
And without realizing it, we start trading our boundaries for these temporary wins.
But what we actually need are boundaries that help us stay balanced.
✅ That give us greater purpose
✅ That build healthier habits
✅ That allow us to succeed at work without sacrificing ourselves
Yes, it’s okay to want more in your career and work hard to achieve it. But you have to be aware of what you’re trading—and make sure you’re sticking to the boundaries that truly serve you.
What’s Holding You Back?
Most of the time, we don’t set boundaries because of fear:
❌ Fear of letting someone down
❌ Fear of no longer being valued
❌ Fear of being judged
I know this firsthand. For years, I struggled with:
🔹 Saying no. I wanted to be a team player, and deep down, I wanted people to like me.
🔹 Overcommitting. I pushed myself to go above and beyond at work to prove my value, even when no one else was questioning it.
🔹 Self-doubt. I put pressure on myself to be “on” all the time, when in reality, I was the only one expecting that level of perfection.
Sound familiar?
Setting Boundaries that Stick
Take a few minutes to reflect on the boundaries you need in your life. Start small—choose just one or two to focus on.
👉 What boundaries will you create in these areas?
🔹 Family – Example: No phones at the dinner table.
🔹 Career – Example: Stop responding to Slack messages after 5:30 PM and set new expectations with your team.
🔹 Fitness/Health – Example: Block off two hours a week for workouts, no exceptions.
🔹 Spirituality – Example: Set aside 10 minutes a day for meditation, prayer, or quiet reflection.
Now ask yourself:
🚧 What will try to get in your way?
Your schedule? 👉 Ask yourself: Does my schedule match my priorities?
Pressure from others? 👉 Ask yourself: Is this pressure really from others, or am I putting it on myself?
Your own habits? 👉 Ask yourself: What bad habits do I need to break? What new habits do I need to create?
🚀 What’s your next best step? Keep it simple and sufficient. Small, consistent actions lead to lasting change.
Your Life. Your Boundaries. Your Choice.
If you don’t set boundaries, someone else will set them for you. And that “someone” is often your job, your inbox, or the expectations you think others have of you.
So, what’s ONE boundary you’re committing to today? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear!
♻️ Found this helpful? Repost to your network and help others build healthier boundaries, too.
Follow me for more tips to thrive with confidence, set boundaries that stick, and build a career that works FOR your life—not against it. 🚀
💛 Alyssa
Founder, Rise Up Career Coaching
Helping you find joy and purpose in your professional journey.
