Last week’s EAs IRL Dinner in Philly was one for the books, filled with laughter, connection, and the kind of real conversation you just can’t get from a Zoom square. It was a reminder that while we often operate behind the scenes, the power of community (and a good dinner) can’t be overstated.

Speaking of power, this week, we’re talking about one of the most underrated forms of it: boundaries.

Because if you’ve ever said “Sure, I can handle that” while secretly wondering when you’ll sleep, this one’s for you. Boundaries aren’t about saying no, they’re about saying yes to sustainability, sanity, and staying sharp in a role that never really turns off.

With love and lots of Coffee, ☕

Chrissy

As EAs, our default mode is “yes.” Yes, I can move that meeting. Yes, I can make it work. Yes, I can handle one more thing before logging off.

But here’s the thing: saying yes to everything is the fastest route to burnout, and ironically, the quickest way to become less effective at the things that actually matter.

Boundaries aren’t walls. They’re structure. They help you design a rhythm that protects your time, focus, and energy, so you can show up as your sharpest, most strategic self.

Think of them like calendar rules: without structure, chaos creeps in. With structure, things flow smoothly, and everyone knows where the edges are.

So if you’ve ever hesitated to draw a line, remember this… boundaries aren’t a sign of weakness, they’re a reflection of clarity.

What a night! 🌆 Our first EAs IRL event in Philly was such a blast — full of laughter, connection, and real conversation. It was amazing meeting everyone who came out!

Huge thanks to our friends at Offsite for making it all happen, and to Osteria for truly hooking it up — the food was incredible, and we felt like total VIPs as we were escorted to a private room tucked away from the main restaurant. The cozy, hidden vibe made it the perfect spot for authentic (and hilarious) EA stories.

Shout out to Kelly Muñoz (EAs To The Rescue) and Mallory Rothstein (More Than An Admin) for being amazing partners and helping bring this night to life.

PS: The night might have ended with me accidentally parking in a school lot... but hey, at least I didn’t get towed. 😅

Because our roles blur every possible line.

We’re the go-to, the fixer, the person everyone knows will “just make it happen.” That reputation? It’s earned, but it also makes boundaries tricky. When your job thrives on anticipation and support, saying no can feel like you’re letting someone down.

But here’s the reframe. Setting boundaries isn’t about being unavailable, it’s about being intentional. It’s not about doing less, it’s about doing what matters most.

You can’t protect your executive’s time if you never protect your own. You can’t plan effectively if you’re constantly reacting. Boundaries give you space to operate at your highest level, the one where you think, prioritize, and lead, not just execute.

Sometimes it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. Here are a few go-to lines to protect your time, keep things professional, and still sound like the calm, capable EA you are:

These phrases set expectations without conflict. They remind people (kindly) that your time has structure, and structure is what keeps things running smoothly.

Where EAs say what they really mean — respectfully, of course. 😉

We’re brewing something new.

Join us for Per My Last Coffee, a monthly 12 PM ET virtual chat for Executive Assistants who need a break from inbox diplomacy and back-to-back meetings.

It’s a space to connect, commiserate, and crowdsource real solutions to everyday EA challenges. We’ll talk boundaries, burnout, wins, workflows, and the occasional “did that really just happen?” moment.

🗓️ First one: Wednesday, November 19 @ 12:00 PM ET
🌐 Free & virtual (Google Meet link after RSVP)
⏰ 45 minutes of connection, community, and clarity
💬 Cameras optional; coffee mandatory-ish (tea is fine, we guess)

☕️ Sip, share, and say what you can’t put in an email. 💅

That calm, collected, “I’ve got this handled” energy we all channel when the calendar’s on fire and everyone’s losing their minds. It’s a reminder that sometimes, being unshakable is the superpower.

Follow our Spotify playlist for inspo! 🎧

Because when we find tools that actually make our jobs easier, we share them. Here are a few favorites we use and love, all with a little something extra for the Office of the EA community:

🏢 Offsite.com — Plan stress-free retreats and team gatherings (they were the MVPs behind our Philly dinner 👏).

🎉 Confetti — Virtual and IRL team experiences that don’t feel awkward. Book a trivia, cocktail, or wellness event in minutes.

🗓️ Vimcal EA — The scheduling tool built for Executive Assistants. Clean interface, fast shortcuts, chef’s kiss.

🎧 Endel — Personalized soundscapes that help you focus, sleep, and recharge. Perfect background for inbox triage or deep work mode.

📦 Amazon Finds — The EA Survival Kit: from blue-light glasses to desktop organizers to the coffee that fuels these emails. (All Chrissy-approved, of course.)

💼 TealHQ — The ultimate career toolkit for EAs. Track jobs, update your resume, and organize your professional goals — all in one dashboard.

Support Office of the EA by exploring any of these tools through our links — it helps keep our newsletter (and caffeine habit) going strong. 💪