3Spoonies On Setting Boundaries with Clients and Partners

3Spoonies Episode Number 51, 19th March 2026 With Karen Duncan , Jo O’Neil and Claire Napper    In this episode of 3Spoonies, we talk honestly about setting boundaries with clients and partners, especially when you’re disabled, chronically ill, neurodivergent, or running a business with limited energy. We unpack why so many of us fall into people-pleasing, over-committing, and pushing ourselves past our limits — and how that leads to burnout, resentment, and crashes we could have avoided. Whether you’re a small business owner, freelancer, employee, or just someone trying to survive modern life with not enough spoons — this episode will help you rethink what healthy boundaries really look like.   Feel free to come and join us on any of our socials  Website - www.3spoonies.co.uk Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/3Spoonies Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/3spooniespodcast/  Blue Sky - https://bsky.app/profile/3spoonies.bsky.social  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3spoonies  Newsletter Sign Up - Get the weekly episode straight to your inbox: https://subscribepage.io/Spoonieletter      If you’d like to find out more about our hosts; Jo O’Neil Website: https://bright-cat.co.uk/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-oneil/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrightCatBusiness    Claire Napper LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-napper Website: www.blackveilstationery.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/Blackveilstationery   Karen Duncan Website: http://www.ponyponypony.co.uk  LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/PonyPonyPony  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PonyPonyPonyCourses    Sponsors A HUGE thank to our main episode sponsor:   Lisa Greener – Green Cat Books Founded in 2017 by fellow spoonie Lisa Greener, Green Cat Books has supported nearly 70 authors and published over 120 titles. We handle the production side of publishing so authors can focus on writing, work, or simply taking time to rest. Our catalogue includes children’s books, sci-fi, romance, and poetry, alongside audiobooks and videobooks, with selected titles now available on Spotify and Audible. We also promote independent creators and offer an affiliate programme for book lovers who want to share and earn. Find out more: www.greencatbooks.com   And to our advert sponsors!  Nicci Lou – Amplify to Thrive Neurodiversity Specialist and AuDHDer Nicci Lou, an ex-nurse turned ICF Certified Coach, invites you to Unmask Without Fear a completely free workshop you can attend at a time that suits you, with no sales pitch. You’ll learn a simple three-step approach to unmasking, helping you move away from burnout, stop performing, and better understand what you truly need. Sign up at: bemorezebra.me   Caroline Buist – Above & Beyond VA Are you spending more time working in your business than on it? If admin and content marketing are eating up your week, it might be time to get support. Caroline Buist of Above & Beyond VA is an award-winning VA and copywriter, offering tailored admin and writing services for neurospicy creatives and coaches so you can focus on growing your business. Find out more: abovebeyondva.co. w: https://abovebeyondva.co.uk  e: [email protected] LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-buist-the-copy-queen/   Would you like to buy us a coffee? Check our Ko-Fi at Ko-fi.com/3spoonies   _____ Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:23 Sponsor: Green Cat Books 00:59 Introducing the Topic 01:51 What Self-Employment Looks Like for Spoonies 03:54 Why Traditional Work Doesn’t Always Fit 06:32 Flexibility vs Stability 09:14 The Reality of Running Your Own Business 12:22 Managing Energy and Expectations 15:41 The Emotional Side of Self-Employment 18:46 Setting Boundaries with Clients 22:34 Creating Sustainable Work Patterns 26:18 Letting Go of Traditional Success Models 29:47 Advice for Spoonies Considering Self-Employment 32:58 Final Thoughts _____