✨How to Set Boundaries Without the Guilt✨
Practical scripts and strategies to reclaim your writing time👏🏼
Boola Bos is located in Toronto and Minneapolis which are on the traditional territories of many Anishinaabe, Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Dakota nations. These lands, both ceded and unceded, continue to be contested.
We acknowledge the historical and ongoing genocide, oppression, and exploitation of Inuit, First Nations, and Métis communities, cultures, and languages across what is now known as Turtle Island or North America.
As writers, we recognize the power of language and place names and commit to using our words thoughtfully to honor the many people who have cared for this land long before European colonial expansion.
We commit to operating Boola Bos in ways that support the dismantling of systems of injustice and which cause no further harm to the land, people, and cultures of our shared home.
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Setting boundaries isn’t selfish—it’s how you honor your creative ambition and your well-being.
This week on TIMEOUT: How to Set Boundaries Without the Guilt
It’s no secret that juggling multiple roles can leave little room for your creative ambitions. Whether you’re a writer or artist, carving out time for your craft often feels like stealing from someone else’s needs. But here’s the truth: setting boundaries isn’t about taking away—it’s about ensuring you have the fuel to give. Here’s how you can approach this practice in different areas of your life.
✨At Home: Create a Team Mentality
Treat your writing professionally, even if it’s not yet profitable. Help your partner and kids see that value. Try this script: “I need an hour each day to work on my writing. It’s important to me and for my career. Think of the time I spend on this manuscript now just like the two hundred hours that a midwife or pilot needs to log two hundred hours to get certified. Can we make a plan together to cover chores and childcare during that time?” When your family sees your writing as a shared priority, it becomes easier to honor that time without guilt.
Boundaries are a gift you give yourself, and by respecting them, you’re modeling a powerful lesson for those around you. Let go of the guilt and embrace the freedom that comes from protecting your time, energy, and ambitions. Your writing is your way of using your unique gifts to reach the highest point of contribution—and no one else will make sure it happens unless you do.
✨With Freelance Clients: Define Your Limits
Clients can sometimes overstep, expecting you to be perpetually available. Communicate clear boundaries by setting expectations upfront. For example, this verbiage could go into your contracts, an auto-responder, or even your email signature for clarity: “I’m available for project-related discussions Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. If something urgent comes up outside of these hours, let me know, and I’ll address it as soon as possible during my next work period.”
✨With Extended Family: Reclaim Your Space
Family members—like a mother-in-law dropping by unannounced or a sister asking for last-minute help—can unintentionally encroach on your writing time. Set boundaries with kindness but firmness: “I’d love to help, but I’ve set aside this afternoon for something already. Can we plan ahead next time?” Framing your writing time as a planned commitment emphasizes its importance.
✨Within Your Community: Politely Decline
If you find yourself roped into every PTA meeting, bake sale, or neighborhood initiative, remember this: saying no is an act of self-care. Practice with this phrase: “Thank you for thinking of me, but I’m unable to take this on right now.” You don’t need to explain or justify your decision.
Setting boundaries isn’t about taking away—it’s about ensuring you have the fuel to give.
✨With Yourself: Honor Your Commitment
The hardest person to set boundaries with? Yourself. Resist the urge to sacrifice your writing time for “just one more load of laundry” or doom-scrolling on your phone. Create a ritual to honor your writing, like lighting a candle before starting or setting a timer for focused work. Treat your creative time as non-negotiable—because it is.
Boundaries are a gift you give yourself, and by respecting them, you’re modeling a powerful lesson for those around you. Let go of the guilt and embrace the freedom that comes from protecting your time, energy, and ambitions. Your writing is your way of using your unique gifts to reach the highest point of contribution—and no one else will make sure it happens unless you do.