As I support many of my clients in creating stronger boundaries to protect their time and energy, I am reminded of just how far I've come myself in this area.

A few years ago, I used to work most evenings and weekends. I rarely said no (and was scared to do it).

I constantly worried about what people would think of me if I didn't "get it all done". And, when I wasn't working, I was thinking about it.

Keeping up with it all left me with little energy and presence for my family or personal time at the end of the day.

I told everyone I was "fine" (my old and unhelpful favorite saying) but on the inside, I felt like I was barely keeping it together.

And, at the time, I didn’t understand the impact and I certainly didn’t realize I had a choice.

My tendency to overwork, lack of presence, and regular grumpiness at home because I was so exhausted was hurting my relationship with my husband and kids . . .

And my performance (although I didn't realize it at the time).

It got to a point that enough was enough.

That's when I got my mindset in order and shifted my perspective on what success really means in my life.

That's when I decided to draw a line in the sand and be more intentional with aligning my actions with my values.

That's when I finally had the courage to put some bold boundaries in place.

I quit cold turkey working all those extra hours (sometimes up to an 80-hour work week) and put a hard boundary in place to end my workday at 5 pm.

At the most demanding time of my corporate career.

I had NO idea how I would make it all work.

But something unexpected happened!

Once I gave myself permission to make my personal time a priority, everything in my life started to change . . . and I performed even better and led even stronger.

I felt more in control of my day. I learned how to say no and focus on what really was the best use of my time. I took away the option of doing it all when I put limits in place.

I gave myself space to recharge. I had more time, presence, and patience with my family. And I even got a promotion.

Was it easy? No. But it did create a lot more ease in my days and totally worth it.

It changed my mindset to there is always a choice - and confirmed that there is a more sane way to be successful.

Keeping strong boundaries between my work and personal time was and is the biggest game-changer for me when it comes to focusing my time and balance in my life.

Because when you stick to your boundaries, it forces you to get clear on what's important and let go of what isn't.

I share this because I want you to know that I have no special ability here. I was where you are likely now.

You too can keep boundaries to protect your time and what matters to you, and still be successful in your work. The choice to change is up to you.

Want to put in place stronger boundaries with your time too?

Go here for a 60-minute training I did just over a year ago called Bold Boundaries.

You'll discover how to take back control of your days by putting stronger boundaries in place that work for YOU without feeling more pressure and overwhelm.

In this training, you'll discover:

• Why boundaries are a game-changer and how it's possible for you, even with all the demands and high expectations

• How to identify the best place for you to put boundaries in place that fits with your life and will make your days easier (not harder)

• (New material) How to communicate your boundaries in an effective way and let go of the worry about "what will people think?"

• What is the mindset that will set you up for success so you follow through and honor your boundaries, which is foundational to creating the change you want to see

• Clarity on your next step to keep the momentum and the one boundary that will change everything for you

So you can have space for what matters at work and in your personal time, be more present in your life, and feel good about making yourself a priority too!

You can keep boundaries, feel less stressed and still be a powerhouse. All you have to do is say yes to taking a next step.

Go here to watch the training.

One decision – or in this case one boundary – really can change your life.

What Next?

You can sign up for Stacey's masterclass, The Confident "No" here.

Stacey L. Olson is a Leadership and Certified Positive Psychology Coach, has 15 years of corporate experience and has gone through her own transformational change from burning out to balanced in life while performing at a high level (both in her corporate career and own business). She works with professionals who want to work less, live more and be their best even with all the demands, high expectations and messiness of everyday life. Stacey is the founder of The Balanced Leader™ program and offers executive and leadership coaching, workshops, and speaking.