5 Ways to Create Boundaries
Creating boundaries can be daunting when you first start. However, it can be life-changing for your mental health. When you are tired of always being available to your friends, or constantly taking work calls after hours, it may be time to set some much-needed boundaries for your mental health. As experts in anxiety counseling in Orlando, we help many people find a way to prioritize their needs instead of constantly worrying about others. These are just a few tips to create boundaries that will benefit your mental health.
Learn to Say No
Saying ‘no’ can be one of the most empowering aspects of setting boundaries, but it can also be one of the hardest steps. If you are always the one down for anything, you may expect some push-back once you start to say no to others. People will not expect it from you. However, you need to persevere and stay true to what you truly want. Once you identify that something is not serving you in a positive way, you will want to practice saying ‘no’ to start creating those boundaries.
Start Small
Do not overwhelm yourself by trying to set too many boundaries all at once. Instead, start small. Choose a few things that you want to remove from your life, and then start with one at a time. For example, you may realize that certain social situations do not make you happy. Choose one event and stop attending. Start to say ‘no’ as you remove these events from your life, and eventually, you will feel more comfortable adding another one.
Be Consistent
Consistency is essential in setting boundaries. When you slip up, you may start to forget why you set those boundaries in the first place Try to stick to your routine and continue pushing to set the boundaries you need. You may think ‘well, maybe this one time will be different,’ but it is not worth the risk. Stay the course and be consistent when setting those boundaries, and eventually it will not require any effort.
Talk It Out
Sometimes, you may want to hide from others instead of verbalizing what you truly need. It can be easier to avoid things then to face them head-on, but this will not be beneficial for your self-care. Instead, talk it out. Tell close family and friends what you truly need in order to put your mental health first and take care of your own needs. As you talk about it, you may realize how supportive everyone will be.
Champion Your Successes
Creating boundaries is not easy, so give yourself some credit when you are doing a good job. Every time you create a new boundary or change a pattern of behavior, you need to take the time to celebrate your success. Recognize your progress so that you can enjoy the journey to setting boundaries, and you will eventually forget about difficult it can truly be.
If you are finally ready to start setting boundaries in your life but do not know where to start, you will want to talk with our professionals in anxiety counseling in Orlando. Contact Orlando Thrive Therapy to hear more about our therapy practices today.
