Self Care Sunday: How to find and set your boundaries
This week’s edition of Self Care Sunday explores boundaries. This is an important aspect of self care, and it can sometimes be difficult to allow yourself to set your boundaries. It is good to know you shouldn’t feel guilty for setting your limits, in fact it’s healthy to do so. Sometimes you can feel completely drained and burnt out. This is a good time to listen to yourself and focus on self care. Some signs of being mentally exhausted are:
If you are feeling irritable and are losing your patience more often than usual.
You find yourself feeling less motivated and lack interest in things you usually enjoy.
You feel detached from friends and family.
You are experiencing acid reflux or stomach issues.
You find yourself struggling to sleep or it takes a long time to fall asleep.
Managing your day to day tasks becomes a challenge.
These signs are important messages from your body to listen to! Setting boundaries is a great way to help improve your mental exhaustion. Some examples of setting boundaries are:
Being comfortable or not feeling guilty saying “no” to people.
Knowing which people in your life drain you and not feeling guilty about putting some distance between you.
Taking a break from your phone and screens.
Going for walks or to a yoga class for yourself!
There are many different types of boundaries that you can set. Big or small, taking action to take care of yourself is an important thing to do. It can be easier said than done though, and many people struggle to not feel guilty about setting boundaries. Some tips to set your boundaries are:
Write all of your boundaries down. It can be helpful to see them because it is easy to forget.
Be as specific as possible with your boundaries, that way you can know when to take care of yourself!
Think about what setting your boundaries will help with. Don’t just say “no” to everything and everyone, but say “no” if someone is asking too much of you or you feel drained.
Remember that boundaries aren’t permanent and you can always change them to suit what you need in a specific moment. Don’t be hard on yourself if you struggle at first, just listen to your body and do your best. Everyone is different, so listen to yourself when you set your boundaries.
Clara Busé is a recent graduate from SCAD, Savannah College of Art and Design. She has a BFA in Writing and is currently working from her hometown, Atlanta.