Boundaries are generally defined as barriers that prevent us from doing a certain task or reaching some place. There are many, who enjoy freedom. They do not like to be governed by others. They dislike any barriers and boundaries. However, the truth is that setting boundaries can boost your mental health. It can make you feel more secure in your personal, social, and professional relationships. These boundaries are healthy. It helps to set up the limits of your comfort in relationships. These healthy boundaries are unsaid rules you set for your behavior with others and expect them to treat you. These are the actions and communications that make you feel secure and healthy. Once you learn to set boundaries, you learn to weigh your feelings and are ready to live with the outcomes of your choices. It reduces your stress levels and feel happy.
# Tips for Setting Healthy Boundaries
- Take time to know yourself. Self-awareness is the key to understanding your needs and values before setting boundaries. Try reflecting on what you like, what makes you uneasy or uncomfortable, and what actions or people trigger you.
- Choose your words wisely. Be direct and specific while communicating, but be careful not to hurt others.
- Prioritize your needs and expectations. Avoid being a people pleaser and never hesitate to say no to something that questions your integrity, honesty, modesty, and dignity.
- As you set boundaries for yourself and expect others to respect them, learn to respect others and their boundaries. Everyone has a right to decide a boundary for themselves.
- Setting boundaries can be difficult, so practice self-care to avoid any stress that may arise due to the doubts raised by others. Meditation, walking, and exercise routines will be helpful.
- Try to be logical and rational. Your boundaries should be constant and not flexible that you keep on changing.
- Avoid making assumptions and misinterpreting other’s feelings. It is better to talk directly than to assume and form an incorrect picture of someone.
# Importance for Mental Health
- It increases your tolerance levels. You honor your needs and prevent others from disturbing you physically, emotionally, and mentally. Moreover, it reduces stress, lessens conflicts, and promotes long-lasting relationships.
- Improved relationships, help realize self-worth, value yourself and others, make better decisions, and thus enhance your self-esteem.
- You respect others and their boundaries. You specify how you expect others to treat you. However, this behavior builds authentic relationships. You tend to have better relationships in all the spheres of life.
- You identify toxic people and learn to be away from them. You try to be surrounded by optimistic and supportive people who care for you and are always ready to stand with you in difficult situations.
- It helps to have a better work-life balance. Though a perfect work-life balance may not exist, setting boundaries will help to avoid stress. You develop smarter ways to complete tasks. It thus helps to have time for rest and spend quality time with family and friends.
Healthy boundaries, in short, encourage a better and more contended life. It saves you from stress. It gives you the control to spend time judiciously and respect others. It conserves emotional energy and puts you in a better mental well-being.
Dr. Anjum Nazir Qureshi,
Assistant Professor,
Rajiv Gandhi College of Engineering, Research & Technology, Chandrapur, India
International Trainer and Global Speaker