7 Boundaries to Prevent Burnout

How can you set boundaries?

That “balance” is never easy to achieve.
Saying “no” is challenging sometimes.
For me, it’s all about practice.
The more we practice the art of saying “no”, the easier it gets.
So, let’s see how to practice this art through the 7 types of boundaries.

1.    “Mental Boundaries”
We need to respect our own thoughts and opinions, right?
And at the same time, we need to allow others to have theirs.
So, here’s an example of a Mental Boundary:
→    “I need some time to think about it before I make a decision”

Now, if you wanna practice, do this:
→    Grab a pen and paper
→    And write down the mental boundaries you wanna use.
You just need to take a cue from the example.
This applies to all the next boundaries, okay?

2.    “Time Boundaries”
How to allocate our time is challenging sometimes, isn’t it?
We need to set limits on how much time we spend on certain activities.
And how much time we spend with certain people.
So, here’s an example of a Time Boundary:
→    “I can’t hang out tonight. I have to work on a project.”

3.    “Physical Boundaries”
We need to protect our personal space.
Are you with me?
So, let’s try this Physical Boundary:
→    “I prefer not to hug people I don’t know”

4.    “Conversational Boundaries”
Do you like talking about… um… I don’t know… politics?
Personally, I don’t.
We need to pick topics that are cool to talk about, right?
And we need to set limits for topics that make us uneasy.
So, here’s an example of a Conversational Boundary:
→    “Let’s talk about something else. I’m not comfortable talking about politics”

5.    “Internal Boundaries”
We need to know when to prioritize our own needs over others, right?
So, let’s try this Internal Boundary:
→    I need to take a break and relax. I’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately.”

6.    “Material Boundaries”
Do you set limits on how you share or lend possessions or money?
No?
Well, here’s an example of a Material Boundary:
→    “I’m sorry, I can’t loan you any more money right now. I need to save for my own expenses.

7.    “Emotional Boundaries”
We need to manage how much emotional support we give to others.
At the same time, we need to recognize when we need to prioritize our own emotional wellbeing.
This is probably one of the most challenging boundaries.
Especially if you love people like me 🙂
So, let’s try this Emotional Boundary:
→    I care about you, and I’m feeling drained myself right now. Can we talk later?

This is how we can achieve that special “balance”.

Stewart Life Coaching
www.edwastewart.com

504.578.0006