3 Signs You Need To Start Setting a Boundary

Have you ever felt pressured by needing to say yes to everything and everyone? Do you often feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or resentful? If so, it might be time for you to set some boundaries.

What are boundaries?

Boundaries are when you set restrictions for yourself through your communications or actions. Setting up a boundary for yourself enables you to feel safer and secure in both your professional and personal interactions.

Why is it important?

Establishing boundaries is important in your daily life as it can help ensure that your needs are met and can create and foster healthy relationships with others.

3 Signs you need to start setting a boundary:

1. You feel overwhelmed.

Do you often feel overwhelmed due to taking on too many duties and responsibilities, and oftentimes you feel like you can't say ‘no’ to other people’s requests?

2. You neglect your own needs.

Are you always constantly helping out others but forgetting to take care of yourself?

3. You're always saying ‘Yes’.

Are you always making promises and agreeing to every plan and responsibility that is given to you when in reality, you want to decline?

Take time to ponder on these questions. Are you struggling with setting boundaries in your life? Oftentimes, we tend to overestimate our mental and physical capacity when it comes to doing our jobs or even just keeping promises to others. This raises a question about how you can practice setting boundaries in your life.

Here are some ways you can practice to set boundaries:

• Taking breaks in between working:

You can set a soft boundary by taking small breaks in between working in order for you and your brain to have a mental reset. For example, going on a short walk or being away from your desk can help refresh your mind and help your body to relax. This ensures that you are not overworking yourself and your mental capacity to the point of exhaustion.

• Standing firm on your boundaries:

You can also set boundaries by knowing your own limits and what you can and cannot do when you are working. Telling your boss that you will only work during office hours and not take calls during the weekends or holidays can be an example. This can help set a time apart for you to rest and work without having work completely take over your daily life.

• Communicate and be honest with your needs:

Communicating your needs and priorities is also a good way to set boundaries. For instance, communicating honestly with your friends, family or boss regarding your own needs for rest and time away from things can help reduce conflict and misunderstanding from harbouring.

Boundary setting is not always pleasing to others, oftentimes, it makes people around us feel uneasy. However, it is important for you to remind yourself that setting boundaries is not an act of selfishness but it is for you to put yourself first by prioritising your mental, physical and emotional health. It is a form of self-care that helps reduce the mental and emotional load before it gets overwhelmingly negative.

Know that you can only truly help others once you have taken care of your own needs.

References:

• Aghamohammadi, S. (2024, March 13). How to set boundaries and why it matters for your mental health. Cultivating-Health.

• Boonstoppel, L. (2024, Nov 26). Setting boundaries, finding hope are keys to mental health; Three farm women address chronic stress realities and strategies. Ontario Farmer

• Houth, J. T. (2024). Setting Healthy Boundaries Is Self-Care. GPSolo, 41(1), 5-7.

• Vozza, S. (2024, Jun 30). Know your limits: Mind your mental health by setting boundaries at work. Chicago Tribune