Abundant Practice Podcast
Episode #654: Are Your Work Boundaries Slipping
Host: Allison Puryear
Release Date: May 31, 2025

Introduction to Work-Life Balance Challenges

In Episode #654 of the Abundant Practice Podcast, host Allison Puryear delves into a pressing concern for many entrepreneurs and therapists: maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal life. The episode, titled "Are Your Work Boundaries Slipping," addresses the common struggle of being constantly engaged with work tasks, leading to an overwhelming sense of needing to be "on" at all times.

The Entrepreneurial Trap

Allison begins by acknowledging the entirely relatable nature of the question posed by a listener: "How do you balance work and life when you're always thinking about tasks and constantly feeling like you need to be on?" (02:20)

She draws a parallel between the entrepreneurial mindset and the anxieties experienced during school days, highlighting how the never-ending cycle of tasks can spill over into personal life. Allison states:

"Do you remember when you were in school and there was this incredibly specific feeling that you couldn't relax until every single assignment was completed? That's entrepreneurship." (03:15)

Personal Journey and Realizations

Allison shares a personal anecdote about her early days in private practice, where she was obsessed with checking off her to-do list. She believed that relaxation was only permissible once every task was completed. This relentless pursuit led to:

• Exhaustion and a fried brain
• Deteriorating relationships, particularly with family
• A persistent state of anxiety, where relaxation was an elusive goal

She reflects:

"I was in a constant state of anxiety. I was waiting for the right moment to relax. But those moments never came." (04:40)

This realization marked a pivotal moment for Allison, understanding that striving for perfection and completeness before taking a break was unsustainable.

Practical Strategies for Setting Boundaries

Transitioning from her personal experiences, Allison offers practical, actionable strategies to help listeners establish and maintain healthy work boundaries:

1. Remove Email Access from Personal Devices
   "Take email off your phone. If you're constantly checking your emails on your phone, you're inviting work into your personal life 24/7." (05:10)
   By eliminating email notifications and access on phones, therapists can reduce the temptation to engage with work during personal time.

2. Limit Work-Related Apps on Personal Devices
   "Keep your work-related apps only on your work computer or device and ensure they're not on your personal phone." (05:45)
   Storing work tools exclusively on professional devices helps create a clear separation between work and personal life.

3. Implement 'Do Not Disturb' Policies
   "Leave your phone in another room, put it on 'Do Not Disturb,' and resist the urge to check it every 30 seconds." (06:05)
   Creating physical and mental barriers to work interruptions fosters a more focused and relaxed personal environment.

4. Schedule Intentional Breaks
   "Set aside intentional times for breaks, whether that's to chat with a colleague, take a walk, or simply relax." (06:35)
   Structured breaks during work hours enhance productivity and prevent burnout without encroaching on personal time.

5. Practice Letting Go of Perfectionism
   "Start practicing letting go of the idea that you can or should finish everything. Learn to be comfortable with unfinished tasks." (07:10)
   Prioritizing essential tasks and accepting that some can wait reduces unnecessary stress and mental clutter.

The Importance of Protecting Personal Well-being

Allison emphasizes that burnout is a real and dangerous consequence of neglecting personal boundaries. She warns:

"All this constant work can chip away at your health, at your relationships, at your overall happiness." (07:45)

Maintaining boundaries is not solely for the benefit of one's business but is crucial for personal fulfillment and long-term sustainability in the profession. She underscores the necessity of:

• Protecting one's energy
• Staying present
• Maintaining clear boundaries

Conclusion and Call to Action

In closing, Allison reiterates the beauty and honor of the therapeutic profession but cautions against the unsustainable nature of being perpetually on the clock. She encourages listeners to:

• Embrace boundary-setting as a fundamental practice
• Utilize available resources, such as her free worksheet titled "Top 10 Things You Can Do to Regain Balance," available through her website
  "DM me the word sheets, and I will send you this week's free worksheet." (07:55)

Allison's heartfelt plea is to ensure that therapists and entrepreneurs alike thrive not just in their businesses but also in their personal lives, fostering a harmonious and fulfilling existence.

Additional Resources

For those seeking further support:

• Membership Program: Abundance Party offers a step-by-step guide to working fewer hours while increasing income and client satisfaction. Visit www.abundanceparty.com for more information.
• Free Tools: Access checklists, worksheets, and more at www.abundancepracticebuilding.com.
• Support: For personalized assistance, email the team at help@abundancepracticebuilding.com.

Timestamp Reference

• 02:20: Introduction of the main question and topic
• 03:15: Comparison between school stress and entrepreneurial mindset
• 04:40: Allison's personal struggles with work-life balance
• 05:10: Strategy 1: Remove email from phone
• 05:45: Strategy 2: Limit work apps on personal devices
• 06:05: Strategy 3: Implement 'Do Not Disturb'
• 06:35: Strategy 4: Schedule intentional breaks
• 07:10: Strategy 5: Practice letting go
• 07:45: Warning against burnout
• 07:55: Call to action for accessing free worksheets

Note: Timestamps are based on approximate points within the podcast episode for reference.