DEAR HARRIETTE: My manager has a habit of scheduling meetings that often run long, and they frequently overlap with other commitments on my calendar. Most of the time, these overlapping commitments are networking chats with colleagues. I know that my primary responsibility is to prioritize my manager and my team’s work, but I feel like I’m constantly in the awkward position of having to cancel or reschedule those networking meetings at the last minute. It’s especially uncomfortable when I have to push back on someone’s time just minutes before the meeting starts; I worry it makes me look unprofessional or like I don’t value that person’s time. At the same time, I don’t want my boss to think I’m unwilling to be flexible since I understand things come up and meetings don’t always run on schedule.

How can I bring this up with my manager in a way that’s respectful but still communicates that these constant conflicts are putting me in a tough spot? I want to make sure I’m being a team player while also protecting my professional reputation and relationships outside of my team. -- Establishing Boundaries

DEAR ESTABLISHING BOUNDARIES: You have noticed a pattern with your boss, so, for starters, schedule your networking meetings an hour later than you have been in order to give yourself a buffer.

You can also speak to your boss to say that you have made plans on particular days or evenings and you will have to leave even if a meeting runs long. Do your best to manage your time by sharing your calendar early on.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My boss recently started following me on social media. At first I didn’t think much of it, but now he comments on nearly everything I post: pictures of my dog, updates from family events, even casual things like a photo of my dinner. What started out as a harmless interaction is beginning to feel invasive, like my boss has a window into parts of my life I’d rather keep separate from work. I try to keep my posts light and respectful, but I also use social media to connect with friends and share personal opinions that don’t have anything to do with my job. Knowing that my boss is not only watching but actively chiming in makes me feel self-conscious and even a little judged. At the same time, I don’t want to block or restrict him and risk looking unprofessional, unfriendly or like I have something to hide.

I feel caught between wanting to preserve healthy boundaries and worrying about how my boss might interpret it if I distance myself online. How do I handle this situation without damaging my professional relationship or my peace of mind? -- Social Conflict

DEAR SOCIAL CONFLICT: It would be awkward to ask your boss to stop observing or posting on your page. Don’t do that. Simply be mindful of what you post, as you should be doing anyway. You know he is looking, and others are, too. Don’t post anything that could compromise your job, your integrity or your professional relationships. Avoid posting anything that could hurt you down the line.

Here’s some advice to everyone: Do not post anything in haste, when intoxicated or when emotionally charged. It could backfire.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am struggling to get my health on track. My doctor has warned me that I am prediabetic. I have seen other people my age who have diabetes and some of the side effects that come with it when treatment and diet are not taken seriously, but for some reason, that doesn’t seem to be enough for me to change my own ways. I don’t really eat many sweets, but I think my affinity for pizza, pasta, bagels and other carb-heavy foods are the real culprits. Since I got this health update, I’ve tried to make some changes, but I fall right back into my old habits and cravings. I am often thinking about what I will eat next. Do I have a food addiction? I am afraid that I can’t get a handle on my own eating habits even for my own good. -- Health on the Line

DEAR HEALTH ON THE LINE: Changing habits is hard for everyone. Your food cravings are real, and they need to be addressed. The good news is that you are aware of this. Ask your doctor to refer you to a dietitian who can help you map out your meals and create discipline in your eating. Give yourself grace as you change your habits, but do take this seriously. The alarm has rung that you are prediabetic. Work as hard as you can now to avoid having full-blown diabetes later. Have you explored with your doctor taking any of the newer weight loss rugs out there?

You may also want to get a therapist to help you sort through your relationship to food. If you do have a food addiction, the professional can help you deal with that.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a huge family and a long list of friends I’ve built over the years from college, work, my sorority, my neighborhood, community clubs, church and so much more. As my husband and I were planning our wedding, we realized our guest list was way too long, and my process of elimination was based on current social proximity -- meaning how close I am with a person now. A friend I grew up with, someone I still love but just don’t see or speak with frequently, reached out to me after the wedding to tell me off. Even after she’d heard about invitations being sent out, she assumed hers was just a bit delayed. She accused me of being pretentious and thinking that I am better than our childhood friends. How do I respond to a message like this? She’s totally wrong about my reasoning, and while I still have love for her, I shouldn’t have to explain my life choices to someone who harbors so much animosity. -- Guest List

DEAR GUEST LIST: Your childhood friend’s feelings are hurt. She lashed out in an inappropriate manner, but hopefully you can see through that. Call her back and apologize for not being able to invite her to your wedding. Tell her that as much as you wanted to include everyone who has been close to you in your life, you did not have the space or budget to do so. You had to make tough decisions in limiting your guest list to your current closest friends and family. Tell her you did not mean to hurt her or any others from your childhood.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: My best friend and I have shifted from talking and texting most days to interacting only via social media. It didn’t happen overnight, but at some point, I felt as though I was always initiating communication. I was in a tough season recently, and when I didn’t have it in me to call or text loved ones, I realized I didn’t hear from her. Since then, our friendship has felt distant, at least to me. She comments on my social posts regularly, but that feels superficial. Maybe she doesn’t realize or care about the shift in our dynamic, but I feel like our friendship has completely faded. Now I wonder, was our friendship even real? -- Internet Friend

DEAR INTERNET FRIEND: In your evaluation of your friendship, what did you like about being close to this person and what didn’t quite work? Could you have missed signs that you weren’t as close as you thought? What do you want from this friendship now? It could be that your friendship has simply changed over time, or you may have always been more committed than her.

Either way, now is the time for you to decide if you want to rekindle the closeness you once treasured or acknowledge it for what it is and move on. Surely you don’t expect a “best friend” to be someone you connect with on social media only. Act accordingly.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m tired of being the only planner in my family. All family events, paperwork and major decisions fall to me, despite having two older siblings. My parents’ 30th anniversary just went by, and six months prior my siblings and I discussed throwing them a well-deserved celebration with all our friends and family. As the big day approached and I realized my siblings were dragging their feet, I began sending out invites and reaching out to vendors. As I began to secure certain things, I’d write to my siblings, asking how they could help and when they were available. Sometimes my messages would go unanswered, or they’d say they’d let me know soon and not follow up at all. I ended up planning it all alone.

On the day of the party, my brother, amazed, told me he knew I didn’t need any help because I’m “so great at this.” My hypercritical sister kept asking about small details that she didn’t like or that I had missed completely. Either way, I didn’t like it. Why can’t I rely on my siblings? What am I doing that makes them view me as the safety net? -- Family Planner

DEAR FAMILY PLANNER: You are taking action and proving to them that you won’t drop the ball. For the next activity, assign them specific tasks rather than asking them loosely what they will do. Yes, it will mean that you are still the organizer, but at least this way you may get some help in executing a plan. Give them deadlines and schedule required weekly meetings to review progress. By guiding them through the process, you will be showing them how to take some of the load off of you in the future.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)