Are squishy boundaries allowed?

When I go on vacation, I typically set the following boundaries:

• I tell all of my clients (writing and coaching) that I won’t be able to email them while I’m away. (I also let everyone know when I plan to return to email.)
• I delete all of my social media and email apps off my phone.
• I log out of my social media accounts.
• I set an away message for my inbox.
• I ask my assistants to handle certain things while I’m away, like customer service-related questions and working ahead on research projects.
• I ask my in-laws (or whomever is caring for my kids) to call me before the kids’ bedtimes, so I can chat with them.
• I hold myself to doing morning pages and taking my vitamins every day, no matter where I am.

On a trip to Joshua Tree earlier this year, I woke up early and checked my email so I could read a message from our airbnb host. When I opened my email inbox, I saw that five of the members of one of my coaching groups had asked me basically the same question about some homework I’d handed out the week before.

I was awake before my husband so I made coffee, turned on some jazz music, and did my morning pages. I noticed that my brain kept turning back to those questions from my coaching group…