Work demands can be overwhelming not just because of what your manager has asked of you but also because of what you want to accomplish in your role and not always having the time or resources for everything. Making a trade-off intentionally gives me a better sense of purpose and control and reduces my sense of feeling overwhelmed.

As a founder, I used to say yes to everything - calls, reviews, interviews, Slack pings, much more... It felt like part of the job. But it drained me fast. I started blocking 2 hours a day for deep work, shared it with the team, and stuck to it. Focus came back and so did the energy. This isn't just a founder problem. Anyone can set clear boundaries and still be a team player. Try this: Block focused time on your calendar. Label it. Let others know.

Feeling like your to-do list is slowly becoming your life story? Trust me, we've all been there. The trick is knowing when to press pause and set clear boundaries. Start by acknowledging your workload with your manager, but frame it positively, emphasize your dedication and desire to deliver quality work. Then, suggest priorities that align with team goals, and discuss realistic timelines. Don’t be afraid to ask for support or delegate where possible. The key? Communication with confidence. Boundaries are not about saying no, they’re about making sure your work is sustainable and impactful. After all, "You can't pour from an empty cup."

Feeling overwhelmed requires proactive boundary setting with your manager. Schedule a focused conversation to clearly articulate your current workload and identify specific areas causing strain. Propose solutions like prioritizing tasks, delegating responsibilities, or adjusting deadlines. Frame your requests professionally, emphasizing the desire to maintain high-quality work and prevent burnout, ultimately benefiting the team's overall productivity. Be prepared to discuss realistic expectations and collaboratively find manageable solutions.

When I felt overwhelmed, I learned that honest, respectful communication was key. I started by tracking my workload and sharing it during 1:1s with my manager to highlight capacity issues. I also set clear working hours and muted notifications outside those times. What helped most was proposing solutions—like task prioritization or delegating less critical items—so it wasn't just about saying "no" but showing I was still committed. Over time, this built mutual trust and helped me manage stress without compromising performance.

To set boundaries with your manager, clearly communicate your workload and priorities. Be honest about your capacity and suggest realistic timelines. Offer alternatives if necessary, and ensure to regularly check in to reassess workloads. Setting expectations early helps maintain a healthy work-life balance.

A comunicação é sempre uma virtude no ambiente de trabalho. Alinhar expectativas, fazer um bom briefing e criar um plano de ação contribuem para estabelecer limites claros não apenas com a gestão, mas com toda a equipe. Manter o gestor atualizado sobre os processos traz visibilidade ao seu trabalho e abre espaço para construir, juntos, estratégias mais eficazes em busca dos melhores resultados. Ou seja, antes de falarmos de limites vamos falar de transparência.

I schedule a one-on-one, say “we need to talk,” and then ghost them for 3 days to establish dominance. Then I send them a printed list of my boundaries via carrier pigeon. If they don’t respond in Old English, I assume they’re fine with it. If that doesn’t work, I forward everything to my 7th grade science teacher and let her deal with it. She’s retired but very assertive.

Get priorities aligned in 1:1 meeting and secure your own organization and goals after that. Then cascade and delegate also following the same logic. It´s also interesting to discuss how to deal with things which were not considered as priority, even when you´re not directly looking after it.