11 Jul Setting Boundaries for Your Mental Health: Why Is It Important?
Boundaries can be uncomfortable, but once you get through the hard part, the benefits go beyond your relationships and connections with people.
Setting boundaries helps us feel safe and focus on what’s important. In addition, it can be a form of easing your worries and fears.
To set boundaries, you should ask yourself questions that allow you to know yourself truly. You should ask what brings you worries or fears in the relationship or if you feel you are being taken advantage of.
How to Set Healthy Boundaries?
Boundaries should be considered a signal showing “stop.” One should reevaluate what you think is “crossing the line,” what makes you uncomfortable, and how it can be better for your next interaction.
Here are some ways to help you set healthy boundaries in your life:
- Listen to what your body says: Sometimes the body knows what is wrong before the mind can fully realize what is happening. Has something made you uncomfortable? Did a friend, loved one, or colleague say or do something that you consider disagreeable? From there, you can start to think about how you can draw the line.
- Know what you prioritize: Know what matters most to you. If you value your alone time, make it a point that you will have your me-time uninterrupted. In a work setting, this can be done by setting a behavioral boundary such as refusing to reply to your work messages outside of working hours.
- Communicate clearly: Say what you mean and don’t be afraid to be heard. Refrain from trying to accommodate what the other person needs if it crosses the line of your boundaries. Be firm in saying no, if needed. Always be respectful with your communication. Remember, it might be hard work for you, but it may be challenging for the other person too.
- Practice: You can write your boundaries before saying it out loud if you are feeling nervous.
- Get ready to be uncomfortable: Be ready to feel uncomfortable with the difficult talk. Sometimes saying what you need might make you feel nervous and guilty. Talk about your difficult feelings with a therapist or a health care professional so you can equip yourself with the right tools and knowledge on the matter.
Healthy Boundaries Benefits
Letting people know what you need can be difficult, but it is a work that needs to be done. You need to be able to face what their reactions will be or how you will act when they cross the line.
However, the difficult work of setting boundaries can be beneficial to you and your relationships, including:
- Helps avoid burnout: being the everything person for everyone can be tiring. It cannot only be physically tiring but also mentally and emotionally.
- Less resentment towards friends and loved ones: When you say what you need out loud, your friends and loved ones can be better at addressing what you need in the connection. It cultivates a healthy and open relationship.
- More balance: You can equally be there for yourself and other people without feeling like you’re not doing enough. You may feel more at ease.
SOURCE:
https://www.calm.com/blog/9-tips-for-setting-healthy-boundaries