12 Healthy Boundaries to Cultivate Self-Respect

How to maintain your boundaries?
I think the key is “consistency + being deeply aware of our boundaries.”

So, let’s see how to maintain our boundaries.

1.    First off, ask yourself:
→    Which area do I wanna set or revisit my boundaries in?

Let’s say you wanna improve 3 areas:
→    Health
→    Career
→    Relationships

2.    Okay! Now, for each area, ask yourself these 2 questions:
→    What activities DO I wanna do in this area from now on?
→    What activities DON’T I wanna do in this area from now on?

Then, you just need to write them down by saying:
→    In this area, I’m gonna…. (A, B, C)
→    In this area, I’m not gonna…. (X, Y, Z)

Let’s see an example.

1st Area — Health Boundaries

I’m gonna…
→    Exercise at least 3 times a week to stay energized
→    Cook nutritious meals at home instead of relying on fast food
→    Sleep 7-8 hours a day by going to bed and waking up at the same time.

I’m not gonna…
→    Skip meals or rely on unhealthy snacks when stressed
→    Stay up late scrolling through social media, disrupting my sleep
→    Compare my body to unrealistic images on Instagram that make me feel bad.

2nd Area — Career Boundaries

I’m gonna…
→    Set realistic goals based on my strengths and talents
→    Seek monthly opportunities for growth and learning
→    Manage my time, energy, and focus effectively to avoid burnout.

I’m not gonna…
→    Compare my career progress to others and feel inadequate
→    Sacrifice my personal values for the sake of career advancement
→    Take on extra projects that exceed my capacity and stress me out.

3rd Area — Relationships Boundaries

I’m gonna…
→    Spend at least 15 quality hours a week with loved ones
→    Communicate openly with my partner about my feelings
→    Set aside time for self-care activities that recharge me emotionally.

I’m not gonna…
→    Ignore red flags in relationships that make me feel unsafe
→    Let others guilt-trip me into doing things I don’t want to do
→    Overcommit myself socially and neglect my own needs for alone time.

This is how we can set or revisit our boundaries.

Of course, next to each one, we can describe exactly what we mean by that boundary.
As we know, everything starts with being deeply aware of:
→    What we want
→    What we don’t want
Only then can we make others respect them.