Geezy TED Talk: Set Boundaries—Your Inbox Isn’t Open 24/7
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Geezy TED Talk: Set Boundaries—Your Inbox Isn’t Open 24/7
Let’s be honest: one of the fastest ways to drain yourself as a business owner is giving customers unlimited access to you. Every ping, every ding, every “Hey, you there?” at midnight chips away at your sanity.
And it’s not just annoying—it’s dangerous for your brand.
That’s why it’s so important to clearly express how people should contact you—and stick to it.
Email vs. Messenger: Why It Matters
Your personal Facebook Messenger is not your customer service desk. That’s your private space—family, friends, and maybe the occasional meme. Mixing business into that? Recipe for chaos.
Email, on the other hand, is trackable, searchable, and professional. It keeps conversations in one place, timestamps your communication, and ensures nothing important gets lost in a sea of GIFs and emojis.
By directing customers to the right channel, you:
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Keep your business organized.
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Protect your personal life.
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Train your audience to respect your process.
Why Not 24/7 Access
If you answer every message at every hour, you teach customers to expect it. And the first time you don’t? They’ll get frustrated.
But the real cost is you. Running on-call for your business 24/7:
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Creates burnout.
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Steals time from your family.
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Turns your business into a ball and chain.
The irony? The more boundaries you set, the more respect you’ll actually get. Customers adapt. They don’t expect Target to open at midnight—and they shouldn’t expect you to either.
How to Set the Tone
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Pick Your Method – Decide: email? Website contact form? Business Messenger page (not personal)? Make it clear.
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Communicate It – Put it on your website, your auto-replies, your group rules. Customers shouldn’t have to guess.
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Set Hours – “I respond to messages between 9–5 EST, Monday–Friday.” Simple, professional, respected.
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Stick to It – Don’t cave and answer 2 AM messages. Protecting your boundary is what makes it real.
The Big Picture
Boundaries in communication aren’t about being cold or “unhelpful.” They’re about running your business like a business.
Because when customers know exactly how and when to reach you, they feel confident. And when you protect your own time, you stay energized, creative, and ready to serve them at your best.
✨ Final Thought: You don’t need to be available 24/7 to succeed—you need to be clear, consistent, and professional. Your sanity (and your inbox) will thank you.