Setting Boundaries That Actually Stick (Without the Guilt)
Episode #3
Boundaries aren't about caring less—they're about sustaining your ability to care over the long haul
Listen Now
Available on Apple and Spotify
About This Episode
It's 8:47 PM on a Thursday and you're staring at work emails that came in during dinner. Your brain is screaming "Just close the laptop!" but your hand is already reaching for the mouse because... what if it's urgent?
The problem isn't setting boundaries—it's the guilt that makes them crumble the first time someone raises an eyebrow.
In this episode, host Aimee Urdiales tackles why teacher boundaries are uniquely difficult and gives you the exact system for making them stick. You'll learn why boundaries fail (spoiler: it's not the boundaries themselves), how to handle pushback without backing down, and practical scripts you can use this week when colleagues, parents, or administrators push back.
"Boundaries aren't selfish. They're strategic. The teacher who burns out in three years can't help anyone. The teacher who protects their time and energy is still making a difference in year 10, year 15, year 20."
In This Episode You'll Discover:
The anatomy of a sticky boundary - The three components every sustainable boundary needs to survive contact with reality
Four high-impact boundaries - Communication cutoffs, meeting filters, lunch anchors, and work location limits with exact scripts
Real talk about pushback - What to say when colleagues comment on you "leaving early" (at contract time)
The guilt framework - Seven common guilt triggers and the reframes that actually work
Email templates you can copy-paste - Auto-responses, parent communication policies, and colleague scripts
Why "no" is a complete sentence - Permission to stop over-explaining and apologizing for basic boundaries
When boundaries feel impossible - What to do if your school culture makes healthy limits extremely difficult
Key Takeaways:
This episode gives you permission to set boundaries without sacrificing your identity as a dedicated teacher. You'll learn that:
Other people's discomfort with your boundaries is not your problem to fix
The guilt will fade—first week feels terrible, by fourth week it feels normal
Boundaries aren't about doing less for students; they're about sustaining your ability to show up
Start with one micro-boundary and build from there
Key Timestamps
[02:30] The Boundary Problem Nobody Talks About
[06:15] Why Teacher Boundaries Are Different
[10:45] The Anatomy of a Sticky Boundary
[13:20] Boundary #1: The Communication Cutoff
[16:45] Boundary #2: The Meeting Filter
[19:30] Boundary #3: The Lunch Anchor
[22:00] Boundary #4: The Work Location Limit
[25:15] Real Talk: Handling the Pushback
[30:00] The Guilt—Let's Tackle It Head-On
[35:45] When Boundaries Feel Impossible
[38:30] Your Challenge for This Week
Ready to Take Action?
Don't just listen—implement!
Get the free Teacher Boundaries Toolkit with a boundaries assessment to identify where you need them most, email templates and scripts for every situation, a 30-day boundary-building challenge with daily prompts, and reframes for the most common guilt triggers.
