Mental Health Is Essential: How To Create Boundaries

Mental health has been a topic of concern with the rising pandemic. Staying home with a lack of social interaction and putting a pause on our daily schedules has impacted us in more ways than one. Keeping this in mind, individuals across the globe are experiencing a variety of mental health troubles, and it is essential to seek professional help when required. Setting healthy boundaries is one way to start your journey to better mental health.

Now more than ever, the boundaries of personal and professional lives are getting blurred. Spending hours working from home or being unable to manage constant household chores, spouse and children can get overwhelming. So if you find yourself caught in a web and you're not sure how and when to say no, you're not alone. You can say no without being rude, it boils down to setting healthy boundaries for yourself. Setting these boundaries will help you prioritize yourself, while giving you a sense of control and freedom over how to spend your time. Although this can be difficult to do at first, it is a responsible way to take care of your mental health. Struggling to figure out where to begin? Fret not, we have you covered. Simply, scroll on!


Learn to say NO

Saying no is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. If you've always been a crowd-pleaser, it's time to start saying no to small things and gradually make it a part of bigger decisions. The art of saying no always helps you reach further.


Be assertive

This may seem tough at first, but it's important to express what you feel. Don't shy away from standing up for what you believe in. Always remember being assertive does not mean being rude.


Know your limits

It's essential to know your limits in all spaces be it physical, emotional, sexual or mental. Reflect on your past experiences to set healthy limits for yourself and know how much you can tolerate.


Communicate

Communication is critical when it comes to setting boundaries. Express your feelings and ask how the other person is feeling. Do not assume what the other person might be thinking, it's always better to have direct conversation. Raise your concerns without being confrontational.


Dedicate specific hours for work and personal life

It often gets tough for individuals to segregate their personal and professional life, be it taking work home or dealing with personal matters from the office. You need to dedicate specific hours for work and leisure. For example you can choose to keep your laptop/phone away post working hours, and while spending time with friends or family you don't look into any work commitments.


Practice self-reflection

Sometimes all you need is some ‘me time’ to reflect upon what you did right, wrong and what you could do better. Pondering over these thoughts will help you establish a boundary for the same situation next time.


Safeguard your personal space

For your boundaries to have a strong foundation, you need to practice self-love and self-care. Set aside time daily to engage in activities that you enjoy. Indulge in activities that release feel-good hormones like running, baking, singing, dancing or reading. Whatever makes you feel happy will make you feel more deserving, increase your self-esteem and help you set firm boundaries.