The Unseen Hours

Isha had always been the dependable one at work. No matter how tight the deadlines or how many last-minute requests came her way, she would take it all on, rarely saying no.

At first, it felt like she was being a good team player, but slowly, the weight of the constant demands began to take its toll. Her evenings blurred into late-night work sessions, weekends lost to emails, and the quiet moments of rest she once cherished disappeared entirely.

Her family, too, had begun to notice. Isha had missed the Holi lunch in March, then the Raksha Bandhan gathering in August, and even Diwali—a time when the entire family came together—went by without her presence. It wasn’t like Isha to distance herself from her family, but it seemed work had taken over everything.

One evening, her elder cousin, Naina, reached out. They had always been close, but lately, their interactions had become less frequent. Naina suggested meeting up, and though Isha’s instinct was to decline, she felt a pull—something in Naina’s voice made her realise she couldn’t keep avoiding her family.

When they met the next morning, Naina greeted her warmly but didn’t waste time on pleasantries. “Isha, I’ve missed you at every family gathering this year,” she said gently. “Holi, Raksha Bandhan, Diwali… It’s like you’ve disappeared into work.”

Isha sighed. “I know, I’ve been overwhelmed. There’s always another urgent task at the office, and I just haven’t learned how to say no. It feels like if I don’t keep up, I’ll fall behind.”

Naina listened, then smiled knowingly. “You remind me of myself a few years ago. I used to be just like you—saying yes to everything, taking on more than I could handle, and slowly losing touch with the people and things I cared about. But a story a friend once told me changed how I see it all.”

Isha looked up, curious. Naina continued with the story her friend had narrated:

“A teacher once took his students to a wide river, flowing swiftly but calmly within its banks. One of the students admired the river’s freedom, commenting on how it moved without restriction. But the teacher corrected him, explaining that the river flows freely only because it respects the boundaries of its banks. Without them, it would flood and lose its path. Boundaries are not barriers. They don’t confine the river—they guide it, allowing it to flow with purpose.

The student realised that true freedom isn’t about having no limits—it’s about knowing where the boundaries are so that you can flow with purpose.”

Isha sat quietly, absorbing the story. “So you’re saying that by setting boundaries, I can actually have more control over my life?”

Naina nodded. “Exactly. When we try to do everything, we often end up losing sight of what’s truly important. But when we set boundaries—at work, with ourselves—we can focus our energy where it truly matters. Just like the river, you need boundaries to flow in the direction you want.”

Isha realised that in her effort to be everything to everyone at work, she had forgotten to set boundaries for herself. She had let work overflow into every corner of her life.....and the cost was becoming too high.

Isha left that conversation with a new perspective. The next time an urgent request came her way, she didn’t immediately say yes, as she had in the past. Instead, she paused and evaluated the priority of her current commitments. She made sure what she was doing aligned with her interests, skills, and goals. By clearly defining her capacity, she ensured that her workload was sustainable.

To her surprise, most of her team members appreciated the transparency and began adjusting workloads more thoughtfully. Over the next few months, Isha started reclaiming her evenings, spending more time with her family and reconnecting with the moments she had missed.

Her work didn’t suffer; instead, it improved. She felt content with what she was doing and the direction her growth was taking. With clearer boundaries, Isha’s energy was focused and purposeful. She no longer felt overwhelmed, and her sense of well-being. Isha learned that setting boundaries wasn’t about limiting herself—it was about protecting her ability to thrive.

What I love about this story is how it draws a clear distinction between boundaries and barriers. Often we avoid setting boundaries because we fear they may turn into barriers. Putting on a different lens and seeing that boundaries are the banks that guide our flow, ensuring that our energy and focus move toward what truly matters, creates a shift.

Like the river, when we respect our limits, we can move with purpose, avoiding burnout and overwhelm. Setting boundaries enables us to show up fully for the things that truly deserve our attention.

What helps you set boundaries and channel your energy where it matters most?