How to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed by Client Deadlines

Do you constantly feel overwhelmed by client deadlines? When you see a task come in, does it immediately send you into a stressed-out frenzy? That’s no way for an entrepreneur to feel in your OWN business. If you're wondering how to stop feeling overwhelmed by client deadlines and feel more in flow with your work, read on! 

What Causes Deadline Overwhelm?

The overwhelm that comes with client deadlines is usually not even related to the task itself. The overwhelm and stress happens because you're allowing your clients to dictate how you work. ⁠

Remember, YOU are in charge of setting boundaries ⁠around how you work (and don’t work) and communicate them to your clients. You are also in charge of taking the wheel and firing clients who don't respect those expectations or boundaries. ⁠

⁠This is YOUR business. You’ve poured blood, sweat, and tears into it and designed it to work around your life, not to have your life work around your business. 

Don’t let someone who doesn't respect others make you feel like your hard work isn't valued. You don’t have to apologize for the way you decide to work. That is your right and your freedom. 

You have to truly own your CEO shoes and lean into your power and your voice. Your power is one of the few things in your business that you have complete control over, so use it to your advantage. ⁠

How to Set Boundaries Around the Way You Work

⁠The best way to set boundaries around the way you work in a positive and healthy way is to communicate them in a way that the client can understand and receive them. Be open to feedback, honest, and up front with clients.

Communicate what your expected turnaround times are and why you have those boundaries. Communicate with them when they assign a task that does not fall inside of your turnaround time and let them know when you can have the task completed. 

If you choose to work 4 days a week, communicate that no tasks will be completed on Fridays. If you choose to work 8am-3pm, reiterate to clients that tasks assigned after 3pm will not be seen until the following business day. 

⁠By doing this, you can prevent misunderstandings and set clear expectations so the client has what they need, while still respecting the way you work. 

You have the right to set expectations and boundaries with clients. 

This is your permission slip to set expectations and boundaries with clients around the way you work. It's important to balance what you've promised your client but also enforce boundaries when a client oversteps. ⁠

⁠Some clients may not even realize they're overstepping. For these clients, kindly remind them of your work hours and your scope of work. This can help you maintain a positive, healthy client relationship for years to come and help you avoid being fired when something doesn’t go as THEY expect it to (even though you have a boundary around it). 

Remember to lay out your boundaries and expectations around your working hours, turnaround time, and the way you work in your client contracts, as they are there to protect you and your business at all times. 

I know it can feel awkward to have these conversations with clients, but when you take the wheel, it feels so empowering, and oftentimes, your clients will celebrate you for it! 

⁠If you need help ⁠determining your boundaries and communicating them with confidence to your clients, let’s work through that together in my 1:1 mentorship. Trust me, you’ll leave feeling on top of the world and less overwhelmed with solid boundaries in your back pocket (and in your contracts!).