I’m working on establishing and maintaining boundaries. So, as we take on the month of March I want to encourage you to focus on one or two words with me.

As I share these words with you, please know I am speaking to myself as well. So, let’s be intentional about saying YES to what serves us aka OURSELVES, and NO to things that do not, aka people, places, work (to some degree, don’t lose your job because of my encouragement), media, situations, and etc.

I cannot do it all, and I also understand in order to have a consistent year of rest there are times I am going to have to establish and maintain boundaries. This will not always be easy or feel comfortable; however, my pursuit towards rest and wellness supersedes the temporary discomfort I will feel.

To set you up for success with the habits, routines, goals, and pursuits you have been working towards so far, today’s wellness tip is my 4 steps to establishing boundaries.

Boundaries are created to honor ourselves and keep relationships in tact, so let’s jump into 4 steps to establish boundaries. 

Start small

New skills take courage and practice so start by setting a small boundary. This boundary can be unrelated to the holidays. By doing this you should notice a change in your confidence level when it’s time to discuss your holiday boundaries with your family or friends. 

Ex: Not checking emails outside of work hours or having 30 minutes of alone time on Sundays. 

Be clear and direct

This tip is extremely important when you’re setting a boundary with another person or entity such as work. By expressing your boundary in a clear and direct way there is little room for error and will help avoid confusion. 

Ex: “I can no longer be a part of this committee.”, “That doesn’t work for my schedule.”, “I’m not interested at this time.”, “Starting 10 minutes late does not fit within my schedule.”

Consequences

Just a heads up, this is the hardest tip to enforce. Explain in a clear and direct way what will occur if the boundary is broken. This way the person/entity you’re setting the boundary with knows what will occur if this happens. As for you, if the boundary is broken or the lines are blurred you know what to do next. It’s consequences time! Remember boundaries are only helpful if they are kept.

Ex: “I need assistance with XYZ, and if I do not receive help this time I can no longer be a part of this project/committee/subgroup.” 

Seek support

Sometimes we don’t need to establish boundaries to others in our life, instead, we need to establish boundaries with ourselves. Ouch! 

The truth can hurt sometimes. If this is the case, share your boundary with someone who will keep you in check and on track. Find the friend, coworker, or family member who isn’t going to go easy on you. Deep down you know who you would make a good accountability partner. 

Ex: I will not work over the weekend or I will only spend __ amount of money this month.

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© Prepared to Prosper and Patience Riley, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patience Riley and Prepared to Prosper with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. A request can be made by emailing info@whoamamas.com.  

Disclaimer
The content on this website and blog are for informational purposes only. Prepared to Prosper, LLC and Patience Riley assume no responsibility for how you use any information or documentation provided through this site. Nothing contained on the site shall constitute as professional advice or substitute treatment. None of the information available on this site shall be construed as an endorsement, guarantee, representation or warranty with respect to any therapeutic practitioner or treatment. 

Copyright Statement
© Prepared to Prosper and Patience Riley, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patience Riley and Prepared to Prosper with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. A request can be made by emailing info@whoamamas.com.