Building Personal Boundaries

Managing the expectations of people who want your time and support can be emotionally and physically exhausting. Don’t hesitate to consider your boundaries in those situations. Ask yourself how you can offer an empathetic response while maintaining the space you need.

You can be a good friend, colleague and person while maintaining boundaries. In fact, those boundaries often help us be more available to other people when they need us.

Don’t look at what others are doing and try to measure up. Instead, take a moment to take a look at what’s important to you. How you want to support other people? What’s your capacity for that? Ask yourself — without judgment — how much time you have to offer? How can you be clear with people about respecting your emotional bandwidth?

Understanding your basic personal rights can help you set and maintain boundaries. These include:

• You have the right to say no
• You have the right to personal space and time even if others would prefer your company
• You're not responsible for anyone else's behavior, feelings or problems
• You don’t have to anticipate other people’s needs and wishes
• You have the right to ask for what you want

Talking to a mental health provider or your primary care doctor about stressors and setting boundaries can be helpful. Don't forget to prioritize yourself and your emotional well-being.