Setting Work Hours That Protect Personal Time

I spent a decade sacrificing everything for my first company (health, family, even my honeymoon). Now, as a dad of three, I'm building my 2nd company completely differently. Here's how: == I used to work 16-hour days, weekends, and holidays. Now? • I work 8-5. • I don’t work weekends. • I take a month-long family trip every summer. Here’s how I made it happen: == 1. Redefine success. During my first startup, success meant hustle and hyper-growth at any cost. Now, success is about building a business that: • Lasts 50+ years. • Stays profitable from day one. • Protects my health and relationships. == 2. Set non-negotiable boundaries. I made a rule when I started @useonward: I work 8-5, Monday through Friday. That’s it. Busyness is no longer a badge of honor. Setting boundaries make you sharper, more creative, and more present as a leader. == 3. Choose a business model that aligns with your life. I picked B2B SaaS because it’s: • High-margin, low-cost, scalable. • Free from the relentless pace of retail or DTC. • Purely remote—no office, no commute. == 4. Go all-in on remote work. Tools like @loom, @NotionHQ, and @asana allow us to: • Document processes async. • Communicate clearly & concisely. • Build process & systems that run without me. The goal? A business that doesn’t depend on me 24/7. == 5. Optimize for longevity, not burnout. During my first company, there were no days off. Now, it’s about properly integrating family & work. Take the long family trip - empower your team but stay on top things. Burnout isn’t proof of dedication. It’s a leadership failure. == 6. Give yourself permission to build differently. The old me would’ve called these boundaries lazy. But here’s the truth: boundaries make you better. The goal isn’t to grind endlessly. It’s to create a company that works for you—not the other way around. == Building a startup doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your health, family, or happiness. Follow Josh Payne for lessons on scaling profitably, creating balance, and building a business you love.

I used to think hustle was the key to high performance. Then I learned the real secret: REST is the most powerful RGA. Most sellers grind themselves into dust chasing performance. But I’ve coached 100s of top performers—and the highest earners don’t work more hours. They master their energy. Here’s how I worked 40 hours a week (never work nights or weekends) and still outperformed 99% of reps: Let’s flip the script on what it takes to be a top performer in sales. Everyone talks about RGAs—Revenue Generating Activities. But no one talks about the energy required to do RGAs well. If you want to prospect with intensity, sell with presence, and close big deals— You need rest. At a mastermind recently, someone called it the “Ultimate RGA”: Rest Generating Activities. Because without rest, RGAs fall apart. You’ll be foggy. Reactive. Distracted. You’ll confuse activity with impact. Here’s how I train reps to recharge intentionally—so they can win without burnout: 1. Plan 4 Vacations a Year I pre-block 4 weeks off annually. They’re non-negotiable. It doesn’t matter if it’s Hawaii or your local mountain trail— The key is knowing you are unavailable. Not half-working. Not checking Slack. Fully present. Fully off. 2. Track and Protect Your Sleep I use a WHOOP. You can use anything. But if you're not sleeping 7+ hours, consistently, you’re underperforming. You can’t bring intensity to your calls when you’re running on fumes. Sleep is a performance multiplier. 3. Calendar Block Your Breaks My calendar is blocked 12–1 PM every day. Lunch with my wife. A walk. Or just quiet. Three hours of deep work → 1 hour of recovery → back for the final sprint. Burnout doesn’t happen from work. It happens from nonstop work. 4. Ruthless Time Boundaries I stop work at 5 PM most days. No nights. No weekends. Ever. You don’t need 70 hours a week to crush quota. You need to stop saying yes to distractions and start owning your schedule. Parkinson’s Law is real: The less time you give yourself, the more efficient you become. 5. Say No to Busy Work I use the 12 Week Year system. Everything I do ties back to a goal. Internal meetings? Minimized. Slack and email? Batched and time-boxed. If it doesn’t move pipeline or drive impact, I don’t touch it. If you’re working 60+ hours and still missing quota... It’s not your work ethic that’s broken. It’s your calendar. Stop measuring your week by hours worked. Start measuring it by energy invested in what matters. You don’t need to grind harder. You need to recharge better. Work less. Sell more. Live fully.

Your constant availability is killing your potential. 10 boundaries that put you back in control: Last year, my client Sarah was responding to emails at midnight, skipping family dinners, and watching her health deteriorate while her career stalled. Less than 3 months after implementing these exact boundaries, Sarah was promoted, sleeping 7+ hours a night, and leaving her laptop at the office on weekends. Control is closer than you think. 10 power boundaries that change everything ⚡️ 1) Response Time Parameters ↳ Check messages at 10AM and 3PM only to preserve deep work capacity 2) Meeting-Free Zones ↳ Block Tuesdays for focused work to protect your highest contribution 3) After-Hours Communication Protocol ↳ Go offline after 6PM with emergency calls only to regain your life 4) Decision Boundary ↳ Never decide under pressure; set specific response times for requests 5) Calendar Control Standards ↳ Build 15-minute buffers between all meetings for mental recovery 6) Energy Protection System ↳ Step away for 5 minutes when tension builds to reset your mind 7) Scope Creep Defense ↳ Document initial agreements to reference when projects expand 8) Rush Request Management ↳ Require 48 hours for last-minute requests unless pre-arranged 9) Relationship Preservation Time ↳ Keep evenings for personal connection to strengthen what matters 10) Personal Capacity Acknowledgment ↳ Visualize your workload as finite when new requests arrive Your boundaries aren't selfish. They're your greatest professional strength ✨ ‼️ Want the complete system to make these boundaries actually stick? Join my FREE masterclass this Wednesday 3/12. Register below! https://lnkd.in/eHQ-Hu4s -- ♻️ Repost to help your network protect their time and energy in 2025 🔔 Follow Dr. Carolyn Frost for more actionable strategies to succeed without burnout

The Silent Productivity Killer No One Wants to Talk About As we mark Stress Awareness Month, I'm calling out the elephant in the professional room: the toxic dance between #stress and #anxiety that's destroying our potential. Here are three radical ways to reclaim your mental space: ✅ 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿. Constant availability isn't hustle. It's self-destruction. When you protect your time and energy, you're not being difficult - you're managing your anxiety and preserving your mental health. 👉 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Create dedicated focus blocks in your calendar where meetings are off-limits. This is your time for deep, meaningful work that actually moves the needle and provides relief from mounting professional anxieties. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵. Your value isn't measured by how quickly you respond or how many meetings you attend. Anxiety thrives in constant comparison and perpetual performance mode. 👉 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Carve out regular reflection time to review your genuine progress. Disconnect from the noise, challenge your anxious thoughts, and reconnect with your actual goals and achievements. ✅ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿. High performance isn't about endurance. It's about sustainable energy and protecting your most valuable resource - your mental clarity and emotional well-being. 👉 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal time. Create a shutdown ritual that signals the end of your workday, helps quiet anxious thoughts, and allows you to disconnect and recharge truly. -- Burnout does NOT make you stronger. Anxiety does NOT define your worth. They drain your potential. Productivity isn't about doing more. It's about doing what matters while protecting your mental health. Coaching can help; let's chat. | Follow Joshua Miller #StressAwarenessMonth #MentalHealth #ProfessionalGrowth

7 Ways To Set Boundaries At Work (Maintain Balance Without Hurting Your Growth): 1. Define, Share, & Stick To Working Hours Setting clear boundaries around the time that you’re “on” at work is a two-for-one deal: - It makes it easier for you to put work away at the end of the day - It makes it easier for your colleagues to know when you’re “on” What To Do: In upcoming 1:1s, mention that you had some changes outside of work and will be signing off at X time, but will be available any time before that. Then stick to it! 2. Don’t Reply To Messages Immediately When you reply to everything as soon as you get it, people begin to expect that from you. Building in a buffer sets new expectations that you’re not going to drop everything to make someone else’s To Do item your problem. What To Do: Set a rule for yourself where you won’t reply to non-critical emails or Slack for at least [Time]. You can start small (say, 5 minutes) then begin to work your way up. 3. Use The “Substitution Method” For New Asks Saying yes to new initiatives can mean stretching yourself too thin. If you feel like too much is on your plate, try the “Substitution Method.” What To Do: When given a new ask: - Thank them for looping you in - Outline all the projects you’re working on - Ask which should be deprioritized for this When you make people realize that saying yes to this means deprioritizing something else, they’ll think twice. 4. Block “Focus Time” On Your Calendar The average employee is interrupted 56 times per day. That only leaves 8.5 minutes between interrupts. What To Do: Put a placeholder on your calendar where you’re marked as busy. During that time, stop notifications on Slack, email, etc. Then focus on the biggest task you have. Start small with 15 minutes, then add 15 minutes every week or two until you’re up to 2-3 hours. 5. Take An Actual Lunch Break Too many of us “eat” lunch while we continue to hunch over our screens and work. Your body, eyes, and brain need breaks to perform at optimal levels. Use lunch as one of these. What To Do: Block time on your calendar to eat lunch. When the time comes, close your computer and go to a different room to eat. Bonus points if you eat without your phone and go for a quick walk after. 6. Respect Colleagues’ Boundaries Society is built on reciprocity. Make sure you’re aware of, and respecting other peoples’ boundaries. They’ll notice this and they’ll be more likely to respect yours in return. What To Do: Be proactive in learning about your colleagues’ ideal setup. Ask them when their working hours are, ask when the best times for meetings are, etc. 7. Start With One & Start Small It’s tempting to try to implement all of these all at once. Don’t do that. What To Do: Pick one that resonates with you. Think about the smallest step you can take for it (e.g. time blocking for 15 minutes, not replying to messages for 5 minutes) and start there.

Burnout isn’t productivity. It’s self-sabotage. Burnout isn’t a workload problem. It’s a boundary problem. Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It builds. One extra task. One late-night email. One weekend “just checking in.” Then suddenly, you’re drained. Not just tired. Totally empty. 13 Boundaries to Prevent BURNOUT 1. Set an end time for work    ↳ If you don’t decide when the workday ends, someone else will. 2. Stop saying “yes” immediately    ↳ Pause. Think. If it’s not an easy “yes,” it’s a “no.” 3. Protect your mornings    ↳ Start the day on your terms. Not in your inbox. 4. Take real breaks    ↳ Scrolling isn’t rest. Step away. Move. Breathe. 5. Say “no” without guilt    ↳ No explanation needed. “I can’t” is enough. 6. Don’t be available 24/7    ↳ Urgency is often fake. Protect your off-hours. 7. Turn off notifications    ↳ Your brain wasn’t built for constant interruption. 8. Create “focus hours”    ↳ Deep work requires boundaries. Block the distractions. 9. Stop over-explaining    ↳ You don’t owe a full essay every time you set a boundary. 10. Set meeting limits    ↳ Too many meetings? Decline. Shorten. Combine. 11. Guard your weekends    ↳ Rest is productive. Treat it like a non-negotiable. 12. Define your role clearly    ↳ If you do everything, people will expect everything. 13. Prioritize yourself    ↳ Your health, your energy, your peace. . .protect them. Boundaries aren’t barriers. They don’t push people away. They keep you from disappearing. Burnout ends when you decide it does. ❓ What have you done to prevent burnout? ♻️ Repost to encourage others to set healthy boundaries. ➕ Follow Nathan Crockett, PhD for daily tips.

𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘁: 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸-𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 It’s easy to blur the lines between work and personal life. Setting boundaries is crucial to maintain your well-being and productivity. Here are ten tips to help you avoid burnout and achieve a healthier balance: 𝟭. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 ↳ Define specific start and end times for your workday and stick to them. Avoid working outside these hours unless absolutely necessary. 𝟮. 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 ↳ Schedule regular breaks throughout your day to rest and recharge. Use this time to step away from your workspace, stretch, and relax. 𝟯. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 ↳ Designate a specific area for work, separate from your living space. This physical boundary helps you mentally switch between work and personal life. 𝟰. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗮𝘆 𝗡𝗼 ↳ Don’t overcommit yourself. Politely decline additional tasks or projects that exceed your capacity to avoid overwhelming yourself. 𝟱. 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗢𝗳𝗳 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 ↳ Disable work-related notifications on your phone and computer after work hours to prevent constant interruptions and allow yourself to disconnect. 𝟲. 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 ↳ Block out time in your calendar for personal activities, hobbies, and relaxation. Treat this time as non-negotiable, just like a work meeting. 𝟳. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀 ↳ Communicate your availability clearly to colleagues and supervisors. Let them know when you are not available for work-related matters. 𝟴. 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳 ↳ Make sure to take your allotted vacation days and time off. Use this time to completely disconnect from work and recharge. 𝟵. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 ↳ Incorporate self-care activities into your routine, such as exercise, meditation, reading, or any activity that helps you relax and unwind. 𝟭𝟬. 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 ↳ Don’t hesitate to seek support from supervisors, HR, or a mental health professional if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Discuss workload adjustments if needed. 𝙍𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧, 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧. ---------- Follow me Gav Blaxberg for more content like this. ♻ 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 to share with your network ♻