Reclaiming Your Time with Boundary-setting

In this solo episode, Brian Thompson outlines practical steps for business owners to take back their time, including auditing their calendars, defining a 'hell yes' filter for opportunities, using scripts to say no gracefully, and starting small with boundary-setting. He stresses that reclaiming time is an ongoing practice that requires accountability, energy tracking, and celebrating small wins. By protecting their time, entrepreneurs can create space for joy, clarity, and purpose in their lives and businesses.

 

Why do boundaries around time management matter

Time is your most valuable resource. You can always make more money, but you can't make more time. And when you waste your time or give it away without thinking, you're robbing yourself of energy, creativity, and alignment. Also, busy does not equal productive. Entrepreneurs often confuse packed schedules with being effective, but being intentional with your time is what leads to real impact. 

In addition, burnout is real. When you say yes to everything, you eventually hit a wall. Your body knows, your creativity dries up, and your business suffers. Intentional time equals aligned action. When you reclaim your time, you make space for work that lights you up, moves your mission, and actually grows your business. 

 

4 ways to take back your time as a business owner

Here are four ways to start taking your time back, starting this week. 

1. Audit your calendar. 

Pull up last month's calendar and look at every meeting, task, or obligation. Highlight what you want more of and flag what needs to go.
 

2. Define your hell yes filter. 

Hell yes may be easy to define in some circumstances, but with most things in life, there's a lot of gray. When a new opportunity comes in, check: does it support one of my values or goals? If not, it's a no, or at least a not right now.
 

3. Use scripts to say no. 

You don't have to ghost people or be rude. You don't owe anyone an explanation, justification, or apology. Not wanting to is reason enough. You're allowed to protect your time because it matters to you, period. Scripts can be helpful training wheels, but over time, your no will stand on its own.
 

4. Start small. 

If saying no feels scary, start with something low stakes, decline in casual coffee, shorten a meeting by 15 minutes, or block one morning a week to focus on work. Small wins build your boundary-setting muscle.

 

How to stay on track with protecting your time

Making this commitment is nothing without accountability. Reclaiming your time isn't a one-and-done move. It's a practice.

1. Do a weekly time check. What drained me this week? What felt aligned and energizing? What do I want to do differently next week? Journaling or voice noting works wonders here. 

2. Track energy, not just time. Rate how you feel after each meeting or task. Patterns will emerge and they'll guide your decisions. 

3. Get an accountability buddy. Whether it's a business coach, friend, or mastermind group, share your hell yes commitment with somebody. Have them check in with you monthly.

4. Celebrate every win. Each time you say no to something that's not aligned, pause and celebrate. You protected your time and your peace. 

I'll leave you with this. You are the steward of your time, not your clients, not your email box, not your calendar, you. The more you protect your time, the more space you create for joy, clarity, and purpose. Your mission deserves that, and you deserve that. 

 

Your action step to setting boundaries and taking back your time

Schedule a 30-minute calendar audit this week. Look at what's a hell yes and what's not, then make one change. That's all it takes to begin. 

 

Resources + Links

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About Brian and the Mission Driven Business Podcast

Brian Thompson, JD/CFP®, is a tax attorney and Certified Financial Planner® who specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning to LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who run mission-driven businesses. The Mission Driven Business podcast was born out of his passion for helping social entrepreneurs create businesses with purpose and profit.

On the podcast, Brian talks with diverse entrepreneurs and the people who support them. Listeners hear stories of experiences, strength, and hope and get practical advice to help them build businesses that might just change the world, too.