May 31, 2025 • 8 mins
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:07):
(Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai. Go Unlimited to remove this message.) Welcome to Ask Allison.
Y'all ask the questions about having a
fun and thriving practice and I answer them.
We have a worksheet for you today so
you can bring this answer into your life.
You can access that at abundancepracticebuilding.com slash
links, where you'll also be able to ask
any questions you have for Ask Allison.
If you want more support, we've got some
free trainings in there too.
(00:28):
If you can't get enough Ask Allison, check
out our YouTube channel for our entire Ask
Allison library.
Welcome back to Ask Allison.
Here is today's question.
How do you balance work and life when
you're always thinking about tasks and constantly feeling
like you need to be on?
I love this question.
First, I'd like to thank Therapy Notes for
(00:50):
sponsoring Ask Allison.
I've talked about them for years.
You probably know their features by heart, but
what really sets them apart is that they
genuinely care about your experience.
It's not just about troubleshooting.
They actively implement user-suggested features like their
new AI notes and automated client payments.
Everybody at Therapy Notes believes in the product
and they want you to love it too.
Plus, they're independently owned, which means no venture
(01:12):
capital and no pressure to prioritize investors over
you.
This independence allows them to keep their prices
fair, to focus on innovation and to prioritize
customer experience.
With over 100,000 therapists already on board,
they've proven you don't need to compromise success
for quality.
If you're ready to see for yourself, try
Therapy Notes free for two months with code
(01:34):
ABUNDANT at therapynotes.com.
All right.
So this is a big question.
It's something that many of us, especially the
entrepreneurial world, wrestle with every single day.
It's really easy to get lost in the
endless cycle of tasks and emails and to
-dos, but I want to dive into how
we can navigate this and find better balance
because it is not about working 24-7.
(01:56):
So I want you to take a second
to think about this.
Do you remember when you were in school
and there was this incredibly specific feeling that
you couldn't relax until every single assignment was
completed?
Like it was holiday break or something.
Like if I don't finish my work, I
can't let myself fully unwind.
Guess what?
That's entrepreneurship.
(02:16):
Like that is, I can't relax until everything
is done, follows us into businesses, but it
is a trap.
And I'll be the first to admit that
I have fallen into it more times than
I'd like to count.
So for example, when you're at the dinner
table with your family, everything's going well, and
then suddenly bam, you realize you didn't respond
to an email or you're about to fall
(02:38):
asleep and all of a sudden your brain
is like, did I send that invoice?
We have all been there.
So here's the thing.
It is so tempting in those moments to
just pull out your phone and handle it.
You think it's just going to take like
less than five minutes.
I'll just knock it out really quick.
And then I can be really present and
relaxed afterwards, which seems legitimate.
But those five minutes aren't just five minutes.
(03:00):
They are a violation of your boundaries.
They're a violation of your priorities.
And again, you might be like, Alison is
just five minutes.
What's the harm?
Let me explain.
I know you didn't start your business just
to make money.
Most of us, at least the ones who
really want to be in this for the
long haul, we started because we wanted freedom.
We wanted time for ourselves, for the people
(03:21):
we love.
But if you don't set boundaries around what
and how you engage with your work, you're
going to lose that freedom that you set
out to create.
Think about it.
When you're constantly answering emails during dinner or
you're dealing with work issues right before bed,
it's like your business is constantly intruding into
your personal space.
And that might not seem like a small
(03:43):
thing at first, but over time it starts
to eat away your ability to really enjoy
those moments with your family or your friends
or just being by yourself.
So I'm going to share a bit of
a personal story.
When I first started my business, I was
obsessed with checking off my to-do list.
I thought the only way I could earn
relaxation was if I cleared everything.
(04:05):
Once I finished this project, I can relax.
Once I respond to these emails, I can
book a massage.
Once I finish this task, I'll take a
break.
Probably sounds familiar.
I was in constant hustle mode.
I kept thinking that self-care and relaxation
would only be okay once all the work
was done.
And guess what happened?
I was exhausted.
My brain was fried.
My relationships, especially with my family, started to
(04:26):
suffer.
I started to realize that this pattern was
not sustainable.
It wasn't just about work.
It was about the mindset that was driving
it.
I was in a constant state of anxiety.
I was waiting for the right moment to
relax, but those moments never came.
My to-do list always grew and I
kept waiting for magical moments when everything was
done so I could finally take a break.
(04:48):
Here's the problem with that.
There will never be a perfect time.
You could work 24 seven and still never
be done.
And that's what hit me hard.
I had to get comfortable with the discomfort
of not finishing everything and still allowing myself
to take a break.
It is not easy, but it's been a
game changer.
So let's get practical.
(05:08):
What can you do to start managing this
better?
How can you avoid getting stuck in this
cycle of constant work intrusion?
Here's what I've started doing.
I want to challenge you to try these
strategies too.
First, I want you to take email off
your phone.
It's a really big one.
If you're constantly checking your emails on your
phone, you're inviting work into your personal life
(05:28):
24 seven.
So here's what I recommend.
Remove your email from your phone.
If you don't see those emails, you're less
likely to act on them when you're supposed
to be taking time off.
Number two, I know it's really tempting to
have everything at your fingertips, but those work
related apps, whether it's your practice management tool,
your client portal, anything else that can really
(05:49):
distract you during your off hours.
So consider keeping those apps only on your
work computer or device and making sure they're
not on your personal phone.
You can leave your phone in another room,
put it on.
Do not disturb.
Resist the urge to check it every 30
seconds.
And when you're with your family or you're
taking time for yourself, really make that time
sacred.
(06:09):
You can also use an app that blocks
apps.
That's what I do.
I use an app called freedom and it
blocks my access to my work apps after
5 p.m. When you're at work, you
can set aside to intentional times for breaks,
whether that's to chat with a colleague, to
take a walk, to just like scroll the
internet for a little bit.
These breaks really help you stay fresh and
(06:30):
focused, but be sure to stick to your
work during your work hours and don't let
personal tasks slip in then because then you
don't get your stuff done.
And lastly, practice letting go.
There's a mind to set shift that has
been huge for me.
Start practicing letting go of the idea that
you can or you should finish everything.
A lot of the time things can wait
(06:52):
until tomorrow.
So learn to be really comfortable with unfinished
tasks.
Know the ones that are a priority to
get done every day.
Make sure those get done.
The others can wait.
Step away from your work even if it
means leaving things undone.
So I want to emphasize that burnout is
real.
It's ugly.
If you're not careful, all this constant work
(07:12):
can chip away at your health, at your
relationships, at your overall happiness.
None of us are in this for the
short term.
We are in it for the long game
and that means protecting our energy, staying present,
maintaining our boundaries, and not just for the
benefit of our business, but for our personal
lives too.
This profession is beautiful.
It is an honor to do the work
we do, but we cannot pretend that being
(07:33):
on the clock 24 seven is sustainable.
It's not.
If we want to do this for the
long haul, we have to get practiced at
setting those boundaries and sticking to them.
So if you are looking for some practical
steps to help you start setting those boundaries
right now, DM me the word sheets and
I will send you this week's free worksheet.
It is top 10 things you can do
to regain balance along with links to all
(07:56):
the other previous free worksheets also.
So let's work together to make sure you're
not just thriving in your business, but thriving
in your life too.
Thank you for tuning in and I will
see you next week.
If you're ready for a much easier practice,
Therapy Notes is the way to go.
Go to therapynotes.com and use the promo
(08:16):
code abundant for two months free.
I hope that helped.
If you have questions for Ask Allison, or
you want to get your hands on the
worksheet for this episode, go to abundancepracticebuilding.com
slash links.
If you're listening, you probably need some support
building your practice.
(08:36):
If you're a super newbie, grab our free
checklist using the link in the show notes.
I'd love for you to follow, rate, and
review, but I really want you to share
this episode with a therapist friend.
Let's help all our colleagues build what they
want.
(Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai. Go Unlimited to remove this message.) Welcome to Ask Allison.
Y'all ask the questions about having a
fun and thriving practice and I answer them.
We have a worksheet for you today so
you can bring this answer into your life.
You can access that at abundancepracticebuilding.com slash
links, where you'll also be able to ask
any questions you have for Ask Allison.
If you want more support, we've got some
free trainings in there too.
(00:28):
If you can't get enough Ask Allison, check
out our YouTube channel for our entire Ask
Allison library.
Welcome back to Ask Allison.
Here is today's question.
How do you balance work and life when
you're always thinking about tasks and constantly feeling
like you need to be on?
I love this question.
First, I'd like to thank Therapy Notes for
(00:50):
sponsoring Ask Allison.
I've talked about them for years.
You probably know their features by heart, but
what really sets them apart is that they
genuinely care about your experience.
It's not just about troubleshooting.
They actively implement user-suggested features like their
new AI notes and automated client payments.
Everybody at Therapy Notes believes in the product
and they want you to love it too.
Plus, they're independently owned, which means no venture
(01:12):
capital and no pressure to prioritize investors over
you.
This independence allows them to keep their prices
fair, to focus on innovation and to prioritize
customer experience.
With over 100,000 therapists already on board,
they've proven you don't need to compromise success
for quality.
If you're ready to see for yourself, try
Therapy Notes free for two months with code
(01:34):
ABUNDANT at therapynotes.com.
All right.
So this is a big question.
It's something that many of us, especially the
entrepreneurial world, wrestle with every single day.
It's really easy to get lost in the
endless cycle of tasks and emails and to
-dos, but I want to dive into how
we can navigate this and find better balance
because it is not about working 24-7.
(01:56):
So I want you to take a second
to think about this.
Do you remember when you were in school
and there was this incredibly specific feeling that
you couldn't relax until every single assignment was
completed?
Like it was holiday break or something.
Like if I don't finish my work, I
can't let myself fully unwind.
Guess what?
That's entrepreneurship.
(02:16):
Like that is, I can't relax until everything
is done, follows us into businesses, but it
is a trap.
And I'll be the first to admit that
I have fallen into it more times than
I'd like to count.
So for example, when you're at the dinner
table with your family, everything's going well, and
then suddenly bam, you realize you didn't respond
to an email or you're about to fall
(02:38):
asleep and all of a sudden your brain
is like, did I send that invoice?
We have all been there.
So here's the thing.
It is so tempting in those moments to
just pull out your phone and handle it.
You think it's just going to take like
less than five minutes.
I'll just knock it out really quick.
And then I can be really present and
relaxed afterwards, which seems legitimate.
But those five minutes aren't just five minutes.
(03:00):
They are a violation of your boundaries.
They're a violation of your priorities.
And again, you might be like, Alison is
just five minutes.
What's the harm?
Let me explain.
I know you didn't start your business just
to make money.
Most of us, at least the ones who
really want to be in this for the
long haul, we started because we wanted freedom.
We wanted time for ourselves, for the people
(03:21):
we love.
But if you don't set boundaries around what
and how you engage with your work, you're
going to lose that freedom that you set
out to create.
Think about it.
When you're constantly answering emails during dinner or
you're dealing with work issues right before bed,
it's like your business is constantly intruding into
your personal space.
And that might not seem like a small
(03:43):
thing at first, but over time it starts
to eat away your ability to really enjoy
those moments with your family or your friends
or just being by yourself.
So I'm going to share a bit of
a personal story.
When I first started my business, I was
obsessed with checking off my to-do list.
I thought the only way I could earn
relaxation was if I cleared everything.
(04:05):
Once I finished this project, I can relax.
Once I respond to these emails, I can
book a massage.
Once I finish this task, I'll take a
break.
Probably sounds familiar.
I was in constant hustle mode.
I kept thinking that self-care and relaxation
would only be okay once all the work
was done.
And guess what happened?
I was exhausted.
My brain was fried.
My relationships, especially with my family, started to
(04:26):
suffer.
I started to realize that this pattern was
not sustainable.
It wasn't just about work.
It was about the mindset that was driving
it.
I was in a constant state of anxiety.
I was waiting for the right moment to
relax, but those moments never came.
My to-do list always grew and I
kept waiting for magical moments when everything was
done so I could finally take a break.
(04:48):
Here's the problem with that.
There will never be a perfect time.
You could work 24 seven and still never
be done.
And that's what hit me hard.
I had to get comfortable with the discomfort
of not finishing everything and still allowing myself
to take a break.
It is not easy, but it's been a
game changer.
So let's get practical.
(05:08):
What can you do to start managing this
better?
How can you avoid getting stuck in this
cycle of constant work intrusion?
Here's what I've started doing.
I want to challenge you to try these
strategies too.
First, I want you to take email off
your phone.
It's a really big one.
If you're constantly checking your emails on your
phone, you're inviting work into your personal life
(05:28):
24 seven.
So here's what I recommend.
Remove your email from your phone.
If you don't see those emails, you're less
likely to act on them when you're supposed
to be taking time off.
Number two, I know it's really tempting to
have everything at your fingertips, but those work
related apps, whether it's your practice management tool,
your client portal, anything else that can really
(05:49):
distract you during your off hours.
So consider keeping those apps only on your
work computer or device and making sure they're
not on your personal phone.
You can leave your phone in another room,
put it on.
Do not disturb.
Resist the urge to check it every 30
seconds.
And when you're with your family or you're
taking time for yourself, really make that time
sacred.
(06:09):
You can also use an app that blocks
apps.
That's what I do.
I use an app called freedom and it
blocks my access to my work apps after
5 p.m. When you're at work, you
can set aside to intentional times for breaks,
whether that's to chat with a colleague, to
take a walk, to just like scroll the
internet for a little bit.
These breaks really help you stay fresh and
(06:30):
focused, but be sure to stick to your
work during your work hours and don't let
personal tasks slip in then because then you
don't get your stuff done.
And lastly, practice letting go.
There's a mind to set shift that has
been huge for me.
Start practicing letting go of the idea that
you can or you should finish everything.
A lot of the time things can wait
(06:52):
until tomorrow.
So learn to be really comfortable with unfinished
tasks.
Know the ones that are a priority to
get done every day.
Make sure those get done.
The others can wait.
Step away from your work even if it
means leaving things undone.
So I want to emphasize that burnout is
real.
It's ugly.
If you're not careful, all this constant work
(07:12):
can chip away at your health, at your
relationships, at your overall happiness.
None of us are in this for the
short term.
We are in it for the long game
and that means protecting our energy, staying present,
maintaining our boundaries, and not just for the
benefit of our business, but for our personal
lives too.
This profession is beautiful.
It is an honor to do the work
we do, but we cannot pretend that being
(07:33):
on the clock 24 seven is sustainable.
It's not.
If we want to do this for the
long haul, we have to get practiced at
setting those boundaries and sticking to them.
So if you are looking for some practical
steps to help you start setting those boundaries
right now, DM me the word sheets and
I will send you this week's free worksheet.
It is top 10 things you can do
to regain balance along with links to all
(07:56):
the other previous free worksheets also.
So let's work together to make sure you're
not just thriving in your business, but thriving
in your life too.
Thank you for tuning in and I will
see you next week.
If you're ready for a much easier practice,
Therapy Notes is the way to go.
Go to therapynotes.com and use the promo
(08:16):
code abundant for two months free.
I hope that helped.
If you have questions for Ask Allison, or
you want to get your hands on the
worksheet for this episode, go to abundancepracticebuilding.com
slash links.
If you're listening, you probably need some support
building your practice.
(08:36):
If you're a super newbie, grab our free
checklist using the link in the show notes.
I'd love for you to follow, rate, and
review, but I really want you to share
this episode with a therapist friend.
Let's help all our colleagues build what they
want.
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