10 Actionable Tips for Setting Boundaries and Prioritizing as a Busy Mom

Jan 27

Mom at laptop with coffee sitting next to child sharpening pencil

Juggling work, family, and personal responsibilities is never easy, but for Type-A working moms, the pressure to be “everything to everyone” can feel particularly intense. From managing high standards at work or in your business, to balancing the demands of home life, the challenges can leave you feeling overwhelmed and depleted — or ready to move to another country and open up a cafe/bookstore and change your name. 😉

The good news? You don’t have to do it all. And I don’t mean someone else has to do (we all know that funny IG Reel trend about “Then who 👏 dafuq 👏 is going 👏 to do it?!”

I mean that you can decide what gets onto your plate in the first place, and some of those deep-seeded obligations that you have taken on most of your life might not be necessary at all.

Setting priorities and boundaries is the key to finding harmony and creating a life that aligns with your values—without burning out. Here are 10 actionable tips to help you take control, starting today.

01. Understand the Importance of Priorities and Boundaries

First you have to get onboard with the importance of prioritizing and setting boundaries. If you are willing to be pushed and pulled through your life based on the expectations of other because of some misplaced guilt or family obligation, then I can’t help you through to the other side of this.

🤔You have to know there has to be a better way and be willing to do something different.

Setting priorities and boundaries isn’t just about getting organized—it’s about protecting your mental and emotional well-being. Without clear limits, it’s easy to overcommit and end up feeling resentful or burned out.

Take a moment to reflect: Have you ever said “yes” to something you didn’t want to do, only to regret it later? When you’re asked to do something or considering adding something to your plate, do you immediately feel a burning ball of resentment in your chest? Pay attention to that feeling — it’s there for a reason.

This is where boundaries come in. They allow you to focus on what matters most and create space for rest and rejuvenation.

Mindset Shift: Think of boundaries as a form of self-care. When you say no to obligations that breed resentment and bust your calendar at the seams, you’re saying yes to your peace, your family, and your priorities.

02. Clarify Your Priorities

Not everything on your to-do list deserves your attention. Start by identifying what’s truly important to you and actually blocking those things into your calendar. It could be sleep, kid dropoffs and pickups, workout time, space for creativity, etc.

👉It looks different for everyone — which is why no “plug and play” productivity or planning system can meet everyone’s needs.

Actionable Tips:

Create a Non-Negotiable List: Write down your top priorities in three categories: work, family, and self.
Option: Use the Eisenhower Matrix: Categorize tasks by urgency and importance to decide what to do, delegate, or delete.
Option: Use the Entrepreneur Scorecard: Assign a dollar amount to the value of your tasks
Reflect on Your Values: Ask yourself, “What truly matters to me?” Your answers will help guide your decisions.

Choose one or more of these ideas that fits with how your brain works and what feels the clearest. Don’t muddle it up with trying to force yourself to learn a new strategy to prioritize (that’s just procrastination, btw).

03. Learn to Say “No” Gracefully

Saying no can feel uncomfortable, but it’s an essential skill for protecting your time and energy. If you’re deep into people-pleasing this will take practice and grace for yourself.

💪You won’t magically say no to everything overnight. It’s a skill that’s developed over time.

Scripts to Try:

“Thank you for thinking of me, but I can’t commit to this right now.”
“I’d love to help, but my plate is full. Can we revisit this later?”
“I need to focus on [priority], so I’ll have to pass.”

Reframe saying no as saying yes to your priorities. Every time you decline a request that doesn’t align with your values, you’re affirming your commitment to what matters most.

04. Build Healthy Boundaries

Boundaries are your best friend when it comes to managing your time and energy. By this I don’t mean the overarching “no’s” of big obligations or responsibilities. I mean the small pressures that sneak into the cracks like afterhours emails and doomscrolling. Those constant distractions are like the frozen water in the boulder’s cracks — eventually that boulder is going to split apart (bonus if you knew this reference was from Legends of the Fall).

👏Building the skill of creating healthy boundardies happens in the small decisions you make throughout the day — not just the big ones like relationship changes.

At Work:

Set clear work hours and communicate them to your team.
Set Do Not Disturb settings for those hours on your phone and/or apps like Slack.
Avoid checking emails or responding to messages outside of these hours (if you train your clients/co-workers that you respond afterhours, they’ll never stop pinging you).

With Family:

Create “tech-free” times, like during dinner or before bed.
Be honest about when you need quiet time or help with household tasks.
Communicate your needs before you’re ready to lose your ever-loving mind.

For Yourself:

Schedule self-care as if it’s an important meeting—because it is. Self-care goes way beyond “taking a bath” or a “spa day”. It can be as simple as quiet time with a good book or a leisurely drive alone with the volume up to 11.

05. Use Tools and Systems to Stay on Track

Technology can be your greatest ally in managing priorities and boundaries.

Tools to Try:

Google Calendar: Block off time for work, family, and self-care. I have an “Ideal Work Week” calendar with my theme days and priorities that I can toggle off and on. Plus it’s easy to set up different calendars for kids, or family and share them with everyone in your household.
Notion or Trello: Organize tasks and projects in one place.
Timer Apps: Use a timer to focus on tasks without distractions (or keep it simple and just use the timer in your phone’s native clock app).
Brain.fm: My favorite app on desktop of phone to have “focus” music in the background based on brain waves.
Skylight Calendar: This digital picture frame plus family calendar is an investment but one that’s been worth it for us! The kids can keep track of all their chores, I have my weekly household admin tasks, we have all our Google Calendars synced, and you can even use it as a grocery list and meal planner. Use my link to get $20 off.

Delegation Tips: At home, assign age-appropriate chores to your kids or outsource tasks like cleaning and meal prep. I have to admit, having our 12 year old be responsible for dishes has been reeallllly nice. Create a household “punch list” for things that need to get done/fixed (like that loose doorknob) so that it’s out of your head.

06. Embrace the Power of a Weekly Reset Ritual

A weekly reset ritual helps you review progress and plan ahead with intention.

Steps for a Successful Reset:

Reflect on the past week: What went well? What didn’t? What will you keep doing? What will you stop doing?
Brain dump everything that’s swirling around in your head onto paper or your favorite digital note taking app.
Organize and prioritize your brain dump list into categories.
Review your calendar and create your plan for the week ahead.
Tidy your workspace — clearing visual clutter from your space has a profound effect on motivation and energy.
Prepare for success by organizing meals, outfits, or work tasks in advance.

Read the full blog on how to do a weekly reset here → Weekly Reset Done Right: Why Friday Beats Sunday Every Time

07. Manage Boundary Pushback

Not everyone will respect your boundaries, and that’s okay. Stand firm. Sometimes it’s not that a person (particularly family) wants to cause you stress and overwhelm — it’s that you have a co-dynamic you’re both used to.

❤️Kindness and practice will go a long way to shifting that dynamic slowly but surely.

Dealing with Resistance:

Respond Calmly: “I understand this is important to you, but I need to stick to my commitments.”
Stay Consistent: Over time, people will learn to respect your limits if you enforce them consistently.

08. Overcome Guilt and Reframe It

Guilt often comes with setting boundaries, but it doesn’t have to control you. Moms tend to be masters at guilt and it just comes naturally.

You’ve probably figured out at this point that guilt turns to resentment in an unhealthy and insidious way. It’s time to stop with that, mama.

Reframe Guilt as Growth:

Instead of feeling bad for saying no, focus on what you’re gaining: more time with family, better mental health, or greater focus on meaningful work.

Quick Exercise: Write down what you gain by protecting your time. Keep it visible as a reminder.

09. Look to Real-Life Inspiration

Sometimes, hearing from others who’ve walked the same path can be incredibly motivating.

I’ve written several blogs around boundaries in different areas of life, including social media, time management, even what to cut in your business strategy.

Here’s a quick list:

10. Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection

No one sets perfect boundaries overnight, and that’s okay. Celebrate your small wins, whether it’s saying no to one extra task or carving out 10 minutes for yourself. Do yourself a favor and notice the moment when you make a different choice—pause and really take it in. How does it feel in your body? Allow yourself to smile, knowing you’ve taken a step toward prioritizing what matters most.

Ideas for Small, Meaningful Rewards:

Create a “yes” jar: Each time you successfully set a boundary, drop a small treat (like a fancy chocolate or favorite tea sachet) into a jar to enjoy guilt-free later.
Order something indulgent: Pick up that luxurious hand cream, scented candle, or specialty snack you’ve been eyeing.
Designate a personal celebration ritual: Blast your favorite song and dance for three minutes after a win—or savor five minutes of uninterrupted quiet with no agenda.
Upgrade your workspace: Treat yourself to a fun new desk accessory, like a cute notebook or a set of colorful pens. If you have an office supply problem (but is it really a “problem”?) then check out my favorites in my Amazon Store.
Steal back time: Schedule a task you dislike (like meal prep or laundry folding) for delivery or outsourcing and reclaim that time for yourself.
Treat yourself to your favorite coffee.
Take a relaxing bath: Use aromatherapy and communicate to your family you need undisturbed time.
Enjoy a guilt-free hour of reading, watching your favorite show, or simple gazing out the window with that special coffee.

By acknowledging these moments, you’ll build the confidence to keep setting boundaries and making choices that align with your values. By celebrating small victories in ways that truly light you up, you’ll stay motivated to prioritize yourself and build boundaries that last. Progress, not perfection, is the goal!

Conclusion

Prioritizing and setting boundaries isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. By taking small, intentional steps, you can create a life that aligns with your values and brings you peace.

✨Start today by choosing one tip to implement. Remember, baby steps and small victories!

And remember: every boundary you set is an act of self-care that benefits you and those you love.

What’s your biggest boundary-setting challenge? Share in the comments below! ⤵️

Time Management for People-Pleasers: Reclaim Your Boundaries

Embracing Authenticity: Setting Boundaries and Protecting Your Energy

Why Quitting Instagram for 2 Months Was Amazing (and what I learned)

Keep or Cut? How to Decide What Stays in Your Business

Time Blocking Not Working For You? Try This Easy Productivity Tip Instead (Ideal Work Week proccess)

Weekly Reset Done Right: Why Friday Beats Sunday Every Time