Boundaries are not walls that keep people out. They are the edges that keep you whole. Without them, work expands to fill every hour, and email finds you at the dinner table and in bed. With them, you have something left for your students, your loved ones, and yourself.

Start small and kind. Decide when you will and will not answer email, and tell students that warmly in your syllabus. Practice a gentle no to the request that would tip you over. You do not owe anyone an exhausting yes. Holding a boundary can feel uncomfortable at first, especially if you are used to giving endlessly, but each one you keep is a quiet act of self-respect that makes the rest of your giving sustainable.