In The Know Radio Show: How To Set Boundaries Gracefully
Setting boundaries, both professionally and personally, can be uncomfortable. Boundaries are those invisible lines you draw to help guard what’s important to you. Our lives are surrounded by a network of relationships and a series of commitments that push back against these boundaries, competing for your time and attention. If left unchecked, this pull on your resources can leave you feeling overwhelmed and depleted.
However, with discipline and a desire, you can enact a personal code of conduct that governs how you interact with the people in your life. That code may demand that you turn off notifications on your phone during work hours or keep after work networking down to one night a week.
It’s important to remember that boundaries aren’t designed to shut people out or limit opportunities but to keep wellness in so that you can show up as your best self every day.
When setting boundaries, it’s important to remember that:
- Its OK to prioritize you as first. That may sound selfish, but it’s not. Just think about it. Before you take off on a flight, the flight attendants always mention that if the cabin should lose air pressure to put the mask on yourself first before you attempt to help everyone else. Why do they say that? Because if you can’t breathe, you can’t help anyone else. So, carve out time for yourself in your schedule and keep the commitment.
- Permit yourself to say no. It’s impossible for you to do everything, and if you try, you’re less likely to do it well. At some point, you will be faced with your limitations. That doesn’t mean that you’re a failure but only confirms what you’ve known all along; you’re human. So, be honest with yourself and those around you. Stop overcommitting and underperforming because you’re worn out. Remember, you train people how to treat you, so don’t set an expectation that you can’t keep.
- Have honest conversations about your boundaries. While they are essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, how we communicate our boundaries to others makes a big difference in how they are perceived. When setting limits, we must be careful not to make other people feel like they are not worthy of our time because that’s not true. You don’t owe anyone an explanation, but by sharing why you’ve put guardrails around your time, you clear the air and earn respect.
Listen to the In The Know Radio Magazine Show recording, including the Lifestyle segment on “Setting Boundaries” (34:44).
