Hi beautiful,
Have you ever found yourself completely drained by the end of the day—your heart full but your body and mind utterly depleted?
Maybe you’ve poured your love into supporting a birth, tending to your family, or holding space for others in your work… only to realize you haven’t taken a breath for yourself all day.
As women, especially those called to serve—whether as doulas, mamas, healers, coaches, or soulful entrepreneurs—we tend to give from our deepest wells. But unless we intentionally guard and refill those wells, we begin to run dry.
What I’ve learned (the hard way, many times) is that burnout doesn’t always come from doing too much—it often comes from not having enough boundaries around what we do.
And friend, boundaries aren’t barriers.
They’re invitations—to honor your energy, protect your peace, and show up fully present for the things that matter most.
So today, I want to gently walk with you through 3 soulful boundary practices that have helped me come home to myself—again and again. May they do the same for you.
Define Your Sacred Hours (And Stick to Them)
There was a season where I was answering messages at 10pm, writing website copy for clients at midnight, and squeezing in follow-ups in the cracks between making dinner and bedtime routines. I was always “on” for someone else—and rarely, if ever, fully present for myself.
Sound familiar?
One of the simplest yet most powerful changes I made was defining sacred working hours that align with my natural energy rhythms. I call them my containers of purpose. These are the windows where I pour my love into clients, create content, or hold space for others.
For me, that might be:
- Client connections from 9am–12pm
- Creative work from 1–3pm
- No client communication after 6pm—unless a mama is in labor (I’m on-call for my birth clients, and it’s an honor to support them!)
Your rhythm will be different—and it will shift with the seasons of your life—but the point is this:
Your time is sacred. When you give it structure, you give yourself room to breathe.
Try this:
✨ Choose one 2–3 hour block of time where you do your most energy-rich work and protect it fiercely.
✨ Then decide when your phone and inbox are off-limits.
Let this be your start. You don’t have to fill every hour to be productive. You just have to be intentional with the energy you give.
Create Transition Rituals Between Roles
As women, we wear many hats—often in the same hour. We go from caretaker to business owner to birthworker to grocery-getter to partner… with barely a breath in between.
No wonder we feel pulled in all directions.
What changed the game for me was honoring the in between moments—the space between roles. I now practice what I call soulful transitions—mini rituals that help me reset my nervous system and shift my energy.
A few of my favorites:
- Doing 3 deep breaths before I switch from client mode to mama mode.
- Taking a barefoot walk outside between Zoom calls and dinner.
- Play music I love after a birth—not because I need to shake it off, but to savor the birth high and gently shift back into my next role.
These aren’t big, elaborate things. They’re micro-moments of coming back to myself.
When you pause with purpose, you invite peace to enter.
Try this:
✨ Choose one daily transition—like work to home, or parenting to partner time—and build a 3-minute ritual around it.
✨ Let it be something you enjoy: a stretch, a sip of tea, a prayer, or a favorite song.
Say No (So You Can Say Yes to What Matters)
This one’s tender—because saying no can feel like we’re letting someone down.
But here’s the truth: every time we say “yes” to something that drains us, we say “no” to something that could fill us.
Boundaries require clarity and compassion. They ask us to tune in to our own energy first, before pouring it into others. And they challenge us to speak up with love—whether it’s declining a client who’s not aligned, stepping away from a toxic group chat, or taking a digital detox over the weekend.
If this feels hard, start small.
Try phrases like:
- “That doesn’t align with my current capacity, but thank you for thinking of me.”
- “I’d love to help, but I’m reserving that time for rest.”
- “Let me get back to you—I want to give it the energy it deserves.”
Your worth is not tied to how available you are.
You are still loving, generous, and kind—even with boundaries.
Try this:
✨ Think of one boundary you’ve been avoiding and journal on what it would feel like to honor it.
✨ Then, practice saying it aloud—with love and firmness.
Boundaries Make Space for the Life You Crave
I know this isn’t easy. I know the guilt creeps in. I know how tempting it is to answer one more message, say yes to one more favor, take on one more task.
But hear me, sister:
You were not meant to carry the world on your shoulders.
You were meant to walk it with open hands and a full heart.
And that kind of presence—the kind you long to give your family, your clients, and yourself—only happens when you are well-nourished, well-rested, and soulfully protected.
Boundaries are the bridge.
Your Turn
Here’s a simple practice to start today:
- Choose one area where you need a boundary.
- Decide what honoring yourself looks like in that space.
- Commit to protecting it for 7 days—and notice how your energy shifts.
You don’t have to overhaul your life overnight.
Just begin—with grace.
If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear:
What boundary are you being called to set right now? Comment below or come share it with me on Instagram @jamiesossamonlive.
And if you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to begin, I invite you to explore my holistic coaching packages—where we work together to simplify, soften, and realign every area of your life.
Because you deserve a life that feels as good as it looks. One that honors you.
With love,
Jamie 💜
Labor of Love for Birth & Beyond
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