"The groundwork of all happiness is health." - Leigh Hunt

How setting boundaries can improve your well-being

Do you’re feeling, deep down, that you just comply with too many things but aren't sure the best way to say no? Maybe you don't want people to think you're rude or unfriendly. You don’t want them to see you as needy, demanding, or “high maintenance.” You don't wish to let others down.

You're not alone. Many people fall into this pattern. The excellent news is that setting boundaries can prevent stress and offer you a way of control and freedom over how you reside and spend your time.

Setting boundaries is sweet for you and the people around you. If you might be clear about your boundaries, people will understand your boundaries and what you might be okay with and what you should not, and they’ll adjust their behavior. The individuals who don't respect your boundaries are those chances are you’ll not want in your life.

Healthy boundaries may allow you to:

  • Build greater self-esteem
  • Be clear about who you might be, what you would like, and what your values ​​and belief systems are
  • Focus on yourself and your well-being
  • Improve your mental health and emotional well-being
  • Avoid burnout
  • Develop independence
  • Gain a greater sense of identity

The best method to set boundaries is to offer direct, open, and honest feedback about your boundaries. Try the following pointers:

Share your thoughts. Be honest but respectful when sharing your thoughts and feelings with another person. It's okay to take a while to gather yourself before and after the interview. But don't let that develop into an excuse to forestall you from telling them how you’re feeling.

Never assume or second guess one other person's feelings. Assumptions can result in many misunderstandings in a relationship. You may feel like you recognize someone so well which you could guess what they're considering, however it's all the time higher to ask than to assume.

Follow what you say. Setting boundaries but not sticking to them makes the opposite person think they’ve an excuse to proceed pushing your boundaries. Don't make exceptions to your boundaries without considering fastidiously about them. Otherwise, you may compromise on things which might be unacceptable to you.

Take responsibility in your actions. Instead of blaming or complaining concerning the situation or your feelings, take a step back and think concerning the decisions you made in a relationship and whether or not they could have contributed to the situation.

Know when it's time to maneuver on. You can communicate how you ought to be treated in a relationship, but you should not answerable for your partner's feelings or communication. Everyone has the best to be treated with respect and fairness. If someone can't respect your boundaries, it might be time to finish the connection.

There are some ways to say “no”:

  • Just say no.” No wavering. No thinking. Just no.
  • “I won’t make it; I have another obligation.”
  • “Thanks, I can’t take that right now.”
  • “Thanks for thinking of me, but I have to say no.”
  • “While I enjoyed attending the last presentation, public speaking really isn’t my thing, so I won’t be doing it this year.”
  • “I’m sorry, I can’t do it.”
  • “I can’t try this.”
  • “Thank you for thinking of me for this project. I can’t do any more work at the moment, but I would like to be considered for other things in the future.”
  • “That sounds really interesting and I would like to do it, but that means I can't submit the report by Friday. Can we talk about changing the priorities of some of my tasks?”

Putting yourself first could be a challenge, but now’s the time to do it. Learning to set boundaries could be a beneficial skill that may allow you to heal and enrich your relationships in the longer term.

Boundaries help us develop into aware of ourselves and our relationships. They are essential for self-care and making yourself a priority. If you’re feeling like you might be unhappy, resentful, insecure, taken advantage of, or losing your sense of identity in relationships, take into consideration whether you’ve gotten unhealthy boundaries and consider setting healthy boundaries.

It's also essential to acknowledge that while boundaries might be an efficient tool for managing and changing your emotions, they should not an alternative to mental health treatment. If distressing emotions are interfering together with your every day life, speak to a licensed mental health skilled.