Geezy TED Talk: The Power of Business Hours (and Why Self-Care Isn’t Optional)
Share
Geezy TED Talk: The Power of Business Hours (and Why Self-Care Isn’t Optional)
One of the biggest lies the hustle culture ever sold us is this: you have to be “on” 24/7 to succeed.
Answer every DM immediately. Approve every order at midnight. Jump every time someone asks for a custom.
But here’s the truth: running your business without boundaries isn’t sustainable. If you don’t protect your time, your energy, and your mental health, your business will eventually run you into the ground.
And that’s why business hours—and self-care—aren’t just luxuries. They’re essentials.
Why Business Hours Matter
Think about your favorite stores. Walmart. Target. Starbucks. Do they stay open just because someone decided they wanted a latte at 3 AM? Nope.
They have hours. Clear, communicated, respected. And people adjust.
Your small business deserves that same respect. When you set business hours, you’re not being “rude” or “lazy”—you’re telling the world:
-
This is when I’m available.
-
This is when I’m not.
-
This is how I protect my energy so I can show up 100% when I am available.
The Dangers of Being “Always On”
-
Burnout → Answering messages at 11 PM, fixing orders at 6 AM, saying yes to everything… it chips away at your sanity.
-
Customer Training → If you always respond immediately, you train people to expect it. And when you can’t, they get frustrated.
-
Resentment → Instead of loving your business, you start resenting it because it never leaves you alone.
Self-Care is a Business Strategy
Self-care isn’t bubble baths and candles (though those are nice). Self-care in business looks like:
-
Turning off notifications after hours.
-
Taking weekends (or even just a Sunday) off.
-
Saying no to projects that drain you.
-
Making time for your family, your hobbies, your mental health.
Because here’s the reality: if you burn out, your business burns out too.
How to Set Business Boundaries
-
Pick Your Hours – Be realistic. Maybe it’s 9–5, maybe it’s evenings, maybe it’s weekends. But set them.
-
Communicate Them – Put them in your group rules, your auto-replies, your website. Don’t make customers guess.
-
Stick to Them – It’s tempting to “just reply real quick,” but protecting your boundaries is what makes people respect them.
-
Don’t Apologize – You’re not a machine. You’re a human. And humans need rest.
The Big Picture
Your business should add to your life—not take it over. If you’re working nonstop, ignoring self-care, and running without boundaries, you’re not building freedom—you’re building a cage.
Business hours give you balance. Self-care gives you stamina. Together, they give you the ability to not just run a business, but to enjoy the life that business is supposed to support.
✨ Final Thought: Hustle culture will tell you that rest is weakness. But the truth? Rest is strategy. Boundaries are strength. And self-care is how you keep your business alive long enough to thrive.