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Why Setting Boundaries Helps Everyone Win
This week’s habit—creating a weekend out-of-office email—was a good reminder that boundaries protect both my business and my personal well-being. I’ve done this for years, but revisiting it made me appreciate the habit even more.
What Worked Well
I keep my out-of-office email simple and consistent. It turns on every Friday afternoon and reminds both clients and me that weekends are off limits. It’s a healthy signal that work isn’t 24/7—and that’s okay.
Challenges: No Auto-Rules in Gmail
The biggest hurdle is that Gmail doesn’t let you automate recurring weekend replies. I have to remember to turn it on manually each Friday. That’s not always easy when I’m rushing to wrap up for the week.
A Surprising Benefit: It Resets Client Expectations
One thing I’ve realized is that many clients email on weekends just to check something off their list. They’re not expecting an immediate reply. But if they get one, it reinforces that you’re always available. This habit helps reset that dynamic.
Tools & Resources That Helped
- Gmail Vacation Responder – Found under Settings > See All Settings > General: https://mail.google.com
- Google Calendar Reminder – I use this to nudge myself every Friday
- Google Docs – I save variations of my out-of-office messages for quick reuse
Lessons Learned
Clients rarely push back when you set boundaries. And if someone does get upset that you don’t answer over the weekend, they may not be the right fit. Protecting your time isn’t selfish—it’s sustainable.
Moving Forward
I plan to keep rotating my weekend messages to avoid inbox fatigue. I may also start creating short templates for holidays and random days off so I’m not writing a new message from scratch every time.
How You Can Implement This Habit
Try it for one weekend. Write a friendly message that confirms your work hours and what to do in an emergency. Save it in your email settings or a Google Doc so it’s easy to reuse. Then add a calendar reminder to turn it on. You might be surprised how much calmer your weekends feel when your inbox is on pause.
about the author
Cami MacNamara is a web designer and owner of WebCami LLC, a Seattle-based agency since 2002. She created Web Designer Habits to help web designers build smarter systems, stay productive, and run a business that works for them.