When switching off feels hard: making space with micro-boundaries
It’s summer. The light lingers longer, the pace of life slows down for some… and yet, for many business owners, there’s no such thing as “off.”
Instead of sun-drenched rest, you might find yourself caught in a loop of checking emails on your walk, squeezing in “one more quick reply” before bed, or telling yourself you’ll just take the laptop for an hour on holiday—just in case.
And underneath it all? That familiar, heavy feeling:
“I’m not doing enough in my business... but I’m also not properly resting.”
“I’m always switched on, but never fully present.”
“Whatever I choose, I feel guilty.”
If this sounds like you, please know: there is nothing wrong with you. You’re not broken, and you don’t need fixing.
You’re a human, courageously running a business in a world that praises hustle and constant availability. Of course it’s hard to switch off. That’s normal. You’re not lazy or undisciplined—you’re just living in a culture that has forgotten how to pause.
Your brain isn’t the problem
Your mind is simply doing what it was designed to do: seek safety, avoid discomfort, and stay in control.
So when you feel the urge to check your inbox during a quiet moment or answer that message immediately, it’s not because you lack willpower. It’s because your mind is trying to protect you—from disapproval, from missing something important, from the awkward discomfort of not doing.
But what’s the cost of saying yes to every pull of urgency, every “just one more” email?
What are you quietly saying no to?
Maybe it’s your rest.
Maybe it’s the walk you promised yourself.
The book unopened.
The creative idea that needed stillness to land.
The joy of feeling truly off.
Each time we respond on auto-pilot, without intention, we might be saying no to the very things that refuel us— and our businesses.
So, instead of asking, “Can I afford to take a break?” try asking:
“What might I gain by truly switching off?”
“What is the long-term cost of being constantly on?”
Start with micro-boundaries
You don’t need to overhaul everything at once. You don’t even need to feel “ready.” You can begin with the smallest step—a micro-boundary.
Micro-boundaries are tiny, intentional acts of self-respect. They might look like:
Closing your laptop five minutes earlier than usual
Putting your phone in another room during lunch
Letting a non-urgent email wait until tomorrow
They may feel insignificant, but they’re not. These micro-moments carry power. Each one gently interrupts the autopilot of always being on. Each one reminds you: I matter too.
And over time, these small shifts build strength.
They build trust in yourself.
They build space.
Let discomfort come along for the ride
Switching off won’t always feel peaceful at first. It might feel restless. Guilty. Wrong.
That doesn’t mean you’re doing it badly. It means you’re building a new muscle.
Let the discomfort be there. Let the guilt come too.
Breathe through it. And act in alignment with your values anyway.
That’s how we build capacity. That’s how boundaries begin—not through perfection, but through practice.
If you were parenting yourself, what would you protect?
Kristin Neff describes fierce self-compassion as the part of us that protects, stands up for our needs, and says no when something matters.
If you were parenting yourself with that fierce love, what would you protect?
Would you let yourself answer emails at midnight?
Would you let your rest get postponed over and over again?
Would you only celebrate yourself when you're being productive?
Or would you say: “Enough now. You matter too. You’re allowed to rest.”
Practical ways to begin: gentle, sustainable micro-boundaries
You don’t need to do them all. Just pick one. Start small. Let it be enough.
1. Set tech boundaries for your future self
Use app blockers or email scheduling tools
Create a simple shutdown routine at the end of the day
Move work apps off your home screen during time off
2. Shift the guilt story
Guilt doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong—it means you’re doing something different.
Try saying: “This feels unfamiliar, not wrong. I’m learning a new way.”
3. Anchor into what you're protecting
Ask yourself:
“What am I saying yes to, by saying no right now?”
“What future version of me will benefit from this boundary?”
4. Start with one clear micro-boundary
“I don’t check email after 6pm.”
“Fridays are call-free.”
“I take a real break at lunchtime.”
“I leave one weekend day work-free.”
These aren’t rules to get right. They’re experiments in living aligned with what really matters to you.
Your invitation
Ask yourself:
“If I were parenting myself with love and fierce compassion, what would I protect today?”
Then honour it with one small action.
Just one micro-boundary.
That’s how it starts.
That’s how you gently shift from constant urgency to intentional care.
That’s how you protect your purpose—and your peace.
If this resonates and you'd like support in untangling your boundaries, your people-pleasing, or your relationship with work and rest—I’d love to walk alongside you.
Together, we’ll make your mind your greatest ally in business, not your biggest drain.
Here’s to sustainable energy, fierce self-compassion, and boundaries that hold you—especially when switching off feels hard.