Reflection
You don't need permission to protect your attention. Notice the small signals — tiredness after a call, a tightening in your chest, or the thought that you need time alone — and treat them as legitimate data, not failures.
Practical limits are small, neutral tools: a few set phrases to decline invitations, a fixed time window you keep free, or a visual cue for friends and colleagues that you are unavailable. Try one change at a time and note how it changes your days.
Consistency teaches others how you prefer to be treated and, more importantly, teaches you to trust your needs. Expect gentle resistance, forgive imperfect practice, and adjust limits as your energy and relationships evolve.