How to establish boundaries

5 Ways to Draw the Line Politely

Knowing how to set boundaries is one of the most essential yet overlooked social skills.

Boundaries are rooted in clear communication.

As Brene Brown says: “Clear is kind, unclear is unkind.” The more precise you can express your boundaries, the more likely your boundaries will be respected. While you may need to repeat yourself a few times, don’t feel the need to apologize or explain your boundaries.

Like an invisible fence around the perimeter of a yard, boundaries establish where your space ends, and someone else’s begins. If a dog can recognize and respect that perimeter, then so can everyone in your life.

Here’s precisely how to set boundaries that protect your mental, physical, and emotional well-being from fostering healthy relationships at work, at home, and in social circles.

What Are Healthy Boundaries?

Healthy boundaries are the limits you place around your time, emotions, body, and mental health to stay resilient, solid, and content with who you are. These empowering borders protect you from being used, drained, or manipulated by others.

You can set boundaries around:

Emotional energy
Time
Personal space
Sexuality
Morals and ethics
Material possessions and finances
Social media

Boundaries can be set with:

Family
Friends
Romantic relationships
Coworkers
Strangers

Though they aren’t as blatantly clear as a fence, wall, or “no trespassing” sign, healthy boundaries communicate to others what you will and will not tolerate. In short, boundaries empower you to take charge of your life.

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Why Do You Need Boundaries?

Personal boundaries are at the root of a fulfilled, balanced life. Without them, people can quickly lose themselves in their work, relationships, familial obligations, or service to others. They can even wind up being exploited or taken advantage of by people who do not respect them.

These borders help define what you are willing to say “yes” to and what you decide to say “no” to. They give you a sense of agency and sovereignty over your decisions.

Like an internal compass, boundaries can all start with a “gut feeling” that tells you when you have the time or energy to devote to something versus when you need to say “no.”

Good boundaries free you to live life on your terms.

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Healthy Boundaries vs. Unhealthy Boundaries

People with solid boundaries tend to have lower levels of stress and higher self-esteem because they prioritize their well-being.

On the other hand, people without boundaries may inadvertently let others take advantage of them.

They may lack self-confidence, a sense of purpose, or a clear identity to guide them through life. Counselor Dr. Dana Nelson writes, “in work or in our personal relationships, poor boundaries lead to resentment, anger, and burnout.”

People without boundaries can be easily persuaded into things they don’t want to do because they may be acting out of guilt or obligation rather than self-love.

Signs of Healthy Boundaries	Potential Signs of Unhealthy Boundaries
Protect yourself from getting taken advantage of	Vulnerable to being “used” or taken advantage of
Own your time	Over-commit your time to others and leave little time for yourself
High self-esteem and self-respect	Lower self-esteem and critical inner dialogue
Prioritize time for yourself	Give a lot of their time to other people
You only take on responsibilities you can handle; you don’t overcommit yourself	Feeling exhausted or burnt out by overwhelming commitments and responsibilities
Authentically say “no” if you don’t have the energy or capacity to do something	Have a hard time saying “no”
Set limits for others without feeling bad	Feel guilty for expressing boundaries
Strong sense of identity and direction	Change yourself to fit in with different people
Take care of your own problems and understand that you cannot heal other people’s issues for them	Take on other people’s problems as your own
You clearly communicate your needs and wants; you prioritize your self-care	You put other people’s needs and wants before your own

Suppose you’re tired of living your life for other people or find yourself exhausted by all the commitments you’ve made to others. In that case, it’s time to set some boundaries and reclaim the power of your time, energy, and mental well-being.

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5 Effective Ways to Set Healthy Boundaries

Setting boundaries comes down to communication. Communicating your needs and desires is the most vital step toward defining your limitations and living a more liberated existence.

Visualize and Name Your Limits

The first and most important step to defining your boundaries is to make them concrete. Boundaries are often confusing and abstract because they feel invisible in our daily lives.

However, by visualizing your boundaries and writing them down, you can get much more clarity on where you want to draw the line between you and other people.

Set aside some time to reflect on the state of your life. Ask yourself:

What is causing me unnecessary stress or discomfort?
What do I look forward to each day versus what do I dread?
Who or what gives me energy?
What areas of my life do I feel exhausted by?
What makes me feel safe, supported, and valued?

Draw a large circle on a blank piece of paper. Inside the circle, write everything that makes you feel safe and stress-free.

For example:

A daily routine
Words of affirmation from your partner
Hugs from your loved ones
Leaving work stress in the office
Clear communication from your loved ones
Freedom to decide how you spend your free time
Saying “no” to energy vampires
Autonomy over your body

On the outside of the circle, write down anything that causes you discomfort, pain, annoyance, or emotional exhaustion. These are the people or situations pushing the limits of your boundaries.

For example:

Your mom telling you what to do with your life
Working after-hours on projects instead of prioritizing your self-care
Worrying about what certain people think about you
Your cousin asking to borrow money
Your coworker constantly dumping her relationship problems on you at lunch
Your roommate eating your food from the fridge
Your boyfriend/girlfriend controlling who you talk to or hang out with
Strange people at the bar touching you without asking
Acquaintances asking deep or intimate questions about your life

This circle represents a visible manifestation of your limits. It’s time to take anything outside the circle and determine how you can define a boundary that will prevent or eliminate those issues in the future.

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Openly Communicate Your Boundaries

One of the biggest mistakes people make is setting boundaries in their minds but not openly sharing them with the people in their life. Sometimes people assume that you should know their boundaries. But if they didn’t clearly communicate where they’ve drawn the line, how will you know when you’ve overstepped it?

This can seem daunting and scary, but it can feel like a significant relief once you get it out of the way. As social psychology researcher Brene Brown says, “clear is kind, unclear is unkind.” Once you know your boundaries, you have to communicate them.

Take a deep breath, gather your resolve, and assertively express your needs in a kind, direct way. Here’s how:

How to Clearly Communicate Boundaries

Time Boundary	“I can only stay for an hour” or “If you’re going to be late, please let me know ahead of time. ”
Energy Boundary	“I don’t have the energy to help you with [their request] right now, but maybe [this resource] can help.”
Emotional Dumping	“I understand you’re having a hard time and I want to be there for you, but I don’t have the emotional capacity to listen right now.”
Personal Space Boundary	“It makes me feel uncomfortable when you [touch or action]. If you can’t respect my space, I’ll have to leave.”
Conversational Boundary	“This is not a topic I’m willing to discuss right now.”
Comment Boundary	“I don’t find those types of comments funny.”
Mental Boundary	“I understand we see things differently and I respect your opinion, but please don’t force it on me.”
Material Boundary	“Please ask me first before borrowing my [possession]” or “I would appreciate it if you didn’t touch my [material thing]. ”
Social Media Boundary	“I don’t feel comfortable with you posting that on Instagram.”

Fortunately, once someone is aware of your boundaries, most people will respect them and apologize if they accidentally cross the line. Without clear communication, the lines become blurred. You can quickly find yourself crossing into the more dangerous territory of getting burned out, taken advantage of, or even neglecting your own needs.

The more precise and direct you can communicate your boundaries, the easier it will be to uphold them. Boundaries are like the “rules” of a relationship. When they’re displayed for all parties involved, it is much easier to respect them.

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Reiterate and Uphold Your Boundaries

Like the invisible perimeter fence around a yard protects a dog from running into the street, boundaries protect you from overextending your mental and emotional well-being.

But the dog has to be trained not to cross that line. They have to understand where their yard begins and ends. It takes time, repetition, and patience.

The same is true of human boundaries. Not everyone will understand or respect your boundaries the first time. It’s essential to stand firm in your decision while kindly reminding them of your needs when necessary.

A dog will get confused if the yard ends at the bushes one day but extends to the sidewalk the next. If someone doesn’t initially respect your boundary, remind them, but stay consistent with your original decision.

Pro Tip: Avoid shifting your boundaries for somebody else’s comfort. If you said, “I don’t feel comfortable with you contacting me about work after hours,” you probably don’t want to send the message that “sometimes it’s OK for you to text me late at night.” While it may be awkward or uncomfortable initially, a person who truly wants to be in your life will respect your decision.

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Don’t Be Afraid to Say No

Have you ever met someone who seemed to say “yes” to everything? People afraid to say “no” often end up with an overflowing plate of duties and responsibilities that they can’t seem to keep up with. They tend to forgo their self-care as they frantically try to meet the demands of all the people and things they said “yes” to.

“No” is a powerful word. It sounds strikingly similar in dozens of languages and can be recognized by simple gestures or facial expressions.

Yet so many people in the modern-day have been programmed to feel guilty for their “no’s.” In reality, to say “no” is to draw a line in the sand. It is an expression of courage, self-love, and sovereignty over your daily decisions.

Remember that every “yes” and “no” shapes your reality. You have the power to choose how you will spend your time and energy. If something doesn’t feel right in your gut, you probably shouldn’t do it. The word “no” is essential for healthy boundaries.

If you need help saying “no” more often, check out our 6 Effective Tips to Politely Say No.

Action Tip: Saying “no” doesn’t have to be rude, but it also doesn’t require an apology or an explanation. Notice where in your life you say “I’m sorry, I can’t” or “maybe, let me get back to you” when you just mean “no.” Pay attention to how you can shift these simple conversations to more clearly draw a boundary instead of leaving another person waiting for a clear answer. The clarity of your communication will ultimately benefit all parties involved.

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Take Time for Yourself

Amidst our fast-moving world, self-care can feel selfish or even frivolous. But the science of self-care is clear: taking alone time for yourself is linked to more confidence, greater creativity, more emotional intelligence, and more emotional stability in challenging situations. It can even help prevent burnout.

Action Tip: For the next month, set aside a solid 2-hour block of time on your calendar each week specifically for “me time.” Let your close family and friends know that you won’t be available during this time. Whether you’re cooking a healthy meal for yourself, getting outside, taking a rest day, hitting the yoga studio, or lounging on the beach with a good book, creating time for yourself is crucial for healthier boundaries.

But what does self-care have to do with boundaries?

Solitude allows you to reflect on your life and your values. The time you set aside for self-care can help bring more clarity into your relationships with other people, ultimately helping you define your boundaries.

To many, this may seem selfish. Modern society’s tendency toward self-sacrifice and workaholism has led a large majority of people to dismiss their boundaries or sacrifice their well-being to please other people. Ironically, this can often have the opposite effect than they’d like.

Self-care and healthy boundaries are not selfish; they are a form of self-love that leads to deeper relationships and more fulfilling experiences.

As the saying goes: you cannot pour from an empty cup. Healthy boundaries are a way to fill your cup so that you can offer more joy and help to the world.

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Bonus: Deal With Difficult People

Whether you’re at work or dealing with a personal relationship, difficult people can make setting boundaries 10x harder. But how do you even begin to deal with them? Through rigorous testing, we found the optimal approach to dealing with difficult people:

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How to Deal with Difficult People at Work

Do you have a difficult boss? Colleague? Client? Learn how to transform your difficult relationship.

I’ll show you my science-based approach to building a strong, productive relationship with even the most difficult people.

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How to Create Work-Life Boundaries

Research shows that blurred work-life boundaries are linked to emotional exhaustion. This is more relevant than ever amidst the massive shift to remote work-from-home scenarios. But workaholism can manifest in many other ways as well:

For example, John is a high-achieving lawyer who takes great pride in his work. However, he often stays extra late hours in his home office, compulsively checking emails and neglecting quality time with his family. He is regularly stressed and constantly thinking about new clients and cases from the moment he wakes up to when he goes to bed.

John often jokingly describes himself as a “workaholic” but inwardly associates his job with his identity. He doesn’t have any work-life boundaries, and his mental, emotional, and physical health are suffering.

Ways to Set Boundaries as a Workaholic:

Set precise work hours (such as 9 to 5 with a 1-hour lunch break)
Follow a morning routine centered around self-care
Avoid checking your phone while with family and friends
Tell your coworkers or employees that you are not available during certain times
Define a space in your home that is only for work (avoid working on your bed or from your couch)
Delegate tasks or hire new employees to help reduce your stress levels
Try a new hobby that is unrelated to your work
Keep separate sets of “work clothes” and “lounge clothes” to allow you to shift between boundaries mentally
When you close your laptop, mentally allow yourself to “clock out” for the day

Workaholism is a real problem resulting from a lack of boundaries around time and energy.

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How to Set Boundaries in a Romantic Relationship

Romantic relationships can be the most challenging area of your life to set boundaries. Despite what the movies tell us, it’s not necessarily healthy to give your whole self to somebody else. And honestly, nobody should expect you to.

Healthy boundaries are vital to healthy relationships. They define who is responsible for what, when you see each other, how you interact, and what each partner needs to feel safe and respected. Perhaps most importantly, relationship boundaries prevent codependency.

Suppose a romantic relationship takes over your life and impedes your work or your relationships with friends and family members. In that case, it may be time to step back and re-evaluate your boundaries.

The 3 most common romantic areas that are lacking in boundaries include:

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How Much Time You Spend Together

Suppose you or your significant other tries to spend every waking hour together. In that case, you may be lacking a boundary around your time.

Relationship counselor Garrett Coan advises the “70/30” rule as a general guideline: the happiest, most harmonious marriages spend about 70% of their time together and 30% apart.

This may be more skewed toward 50/50 or 40/60 depending on the stage of your relationship, but the moral of the story is that nobody should take up all of your time. Time with a romantic partner needs to be balanced with time for friends, family, and yourself.

You can gently and lovingly express that you need more time to yourself to bring the best version of yourself into the relationship. This may manifest as a simple boundary like, “Sundays are my days for myself.”

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Setting Physical and Sexual Boundaries

Physical boundaries are essential at every stage of a relationship, especially in the heat of a new romance. It is imperative to ask for permission before kissing, hugging, or touching a romantic partner for the first time.

Moreover, there needs to be conversations around how comfortable each person is with things like publicly displaying affection, holding hands, or any other form of physical boundary.

Maintaining autonomy over your body while respecting the physical or emotional boundaries of your sexual partner is crucial to maintaining a healthy connection. This can include consent, privacy, expressing your preferences and desires, and having a mutual understanding of your partner’s physical and emotional needs.

For example, suppose a man sees a woman who has a history of sexual abuse or trauma. In that case, he can respect her sexual boundaries by regularly checking in about her comfort with different types of physical intimacy. Suppose she expresses that a particular experience was triggering for her. In that case, he needs to respect that boundary to maintain her trust.

More commonplace examples for physical boundaries include avoiding overt PDA while at a social gathering or simply asking someone before hugging them.

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Respecting Emotional Boundaries

Perhaps the most complex of all, emotional boundaries are the guidelines surrounding how you and your partner express your feelings to each other.

How do you talk to each other? Do you listen intently to your partner’s needs or only focus on yourself? What topics do you avoid discussing? What tones of voice do you use? How do you apologize and resolve the situation when you get into arguments?

Examples of Emotional Boundaries:

“Let’s not discuss that topic at tonight’s dinner.”
“It makes me uncomfortable when you bring up [painful topic]. Can we please keep that between us?”
“I need some time to myself to think about this situation.”
“I will not tolerate being called names.”
“I want to support you in this hard time, but I cannot be your emotional dumping ground. Maybe you can reach out to [a therapist, your mom, etc.].”

Pro Tip: For more amazing advice on how to (properly) argue, read on: 9 Conflict Resolution Tips to Win An Argument Like a Jedi

A Note on Emotional Dumping

Unlike venting, emotional dumping is sporadically dumping traumatic feelings, thoughts, and emotions onto a partner or even a stranger. Whether you are the giver or receiver of emotional dumping, it can be a difficult boundary to navigate.

A person trying to release their emotions can express extreme vulnerability. But vulnerability can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, vulnerability is the key to establishing deep romantic connections. But it can also lead to breaches of trust or even over-sharing.

Everyone experiences heavy emotions that they sometimes need to vent, but using your romantic partner as an emotional dumping ground can significantly strain the relationship. After all, significant others are not therapists.

Set this boundary for yourself and your partner by compassionately saying, “I want to be there for you, but I don’t think I can support you in this way.” You can also suggest a third-party professional help with the situation potentially. Remember always to show empathy but demonstrate that you feel uncomfortable being the recipient of such intense oversharing.

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How to Set Boundaries With Parents

When it comes to parental boundaries, it’s a whole different ball game. As a child, it can be incredibly confusing to have your caretaker lean on you for support or express inappropriate emotions in front of you. Fortunately, as an adult, you have more freedom and awareness to navigate boundaries with your parents.

Either way, boundaries need to be established. Whether young, adolescent, or adult, children need to know that they have certain privacy from their parents, for example, a boundary around their parents reading their diaries or entering their room while they are changing clothes.

In the reverse scenario, children also need to know their parents’ privacy and comfort level guidelines. Parents who want to set boundaries with their children may tell their kids always to knock before entering their bedroom or to ask before using certain household items.

Young adults may need to set boundaries around their parents’ guidance for suggestions. Parents often have an idea of how they want their child to live their life, and even if it is well-meaning, it can be harmful to your sense of freedom and self-sovereignty. Adults can draw this boundary by expressing to their parents that they prefer not to receive unsolicited advice or judgment about their decisions. They will ask for help when they need it.

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How to Set Boundaries With Friends

While friendships are vital to your health and happiness, they can often be taxing when they have no bounds. Needy friends may expect a lot from you and not always give back. If you need to establish more boundaries with your friends, it all begins with the confidence to say “no.”

If you’re a people pleaser, this can be incredibly challenging because you want to make everyone happy. You may have difficulty saying “no” to someone asking for your help or attention, even if you don’t have the energy or time to do it.

There also could be some personal work involved. If you fear rejection or a need for validation, it may be harder to delineate your boundaries. But the friends worth having tend to understand and respect your priorities. Saying “no” is not a massive betrayal or letdown. It’s simply a skill you can practice to help establish more boundaries within friendships.

Ways to Set Boundaries with Friends:

Set aside time specifically for yourself
Let your friends know when they can expect a response from you (set this boundary, so people don’t get upset if you don’t respond to their text or call right away)
Clearly express when you feel overwhelmed, ignored, or unheard.
If you’re afraid to say “no,” start saying “I’ll get back to you” and think about things before you provide an answer
Let your friends know that you have personal goals and dreams you are working towards
Only offer to help friends with things that you genuinely have the capacity for. Otherwise, suggest alternative ways they can get help with the situation.
Communicate that you are there for them, yet you are also prioritizing yourself at this time in your life.

Pro Tip: Use our 11 expert tips to stop being a people pleaser to feel more confident and authentic in your friendships.

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In Summary, 5 Steps to Set Healthy Boundaries

If you want to reclaim your energy, time, and power, setting boundaries is crucial for your growth journey.

While it may seem daunting, setting boundaries doesn’t need to be complicated:

Define your limits (what supports you versus what detracts from your well-being)
Openly communicate your boundaries to people in your life
Remind people if needed (but always stick to your boundaries)
Don’t be afraid to say “no” to things that don’t serve you
Take time for yourself

The bounds of your life will shape your growth and relationships with people around you. You only have so much time, energy, and emotional capacity. If you don’t protect your well-being, nobody else will.

Hopefully, by establishing clear boundaries, you can find more freedom to express yourself and live a more joyful life.

If you’re seeking more confidence to layout your boundaries and fulfill your greatest potential, check out our guide on How to Be More Confident: 11 Scientific Strategies For More Confidence.

10 Ways to Build and Preserve Better Boundaries I Psych Central

Understanding how to set personal limits is essential for building and maintaining healthy relationships.

Many people know what the word “boundaries” means, but they have no idea what they are. You might think of boundaries as something like a property line or “brick wall” used to keep people out.

But boundaries are not rigid lines drawn in the sand that are clear for all to see.

Boundaries are a way to take care of ourselves. When you understand how to set and maintain healthy boundaries, you can avoid the feelings of resentment, disappointment, and anger that build up when limits have been pushed.

Boundaries can take many forms. They can range from being rigid and strict to appearing almost nonexistent.

If you have more rigid boundaries, you might:

keep others at a distance
seem detached, even with intimate partners
have few close relationships
avoid close relationships

If you have more loose or open boundaries, you might:

get too involved with others’ problems
find it difficult to say “no” to others’ requests
overshare personal information with others
seek to please others for fear of rejection

A person with healthy boundaries understands that making their expectations clear helps in two ways: it establishes what behavior you will accept from other people, and it establishes what behavior other people can expect from you. If you have healthy boundaries, you might:

share personal information appropriately (not too much or not too little)
understand your personal needs and wants and know how to communicate them
value your own opinions
accept when others tell you “no”

Many of us have a mix of boundaries depending on the situation. For example, you might have strict boundaries at work and more loose ones at home or with family and friends.

There might even be different boundaries based on a person’s culture. For example, some cultures find that sharing personal information is not appropriate at any time, while in other cultures, sharing might be encouraged at all times.

Building healthy boundaries — whether you’re at work, at home, or hanging out with friends — hinges on understanding the types of boundaries.

There are five different types:

Physical. This refers to your personal space, your privacy, and your body. You might be someone who is comfortable with public displays of affection (hugs, kisses, and hand-holding), or you might be someone who prefers not to be touched in public.
Sexual. These are your expectations concerning intimacy. Sexual comments and touches might be uncomfortable for you.
Intellectual. These boundaries concern your thoughts and beliefs. Intellectual boundaries are not respected when someone dismisses another person’s ideas and opinions.
Emotional. This refers to a person’s feelings. You might not feel comfortable sharing your feelings about everything with a friend or partner. Instead, you prefer to share gradually over time.
Financial. This one, as you guessed, is all about money. If you like to save money — not spend it on trendy fashions — you might not want to loan money to a friend who does.

When you get ready to establish your boundaries, be sure to take each one into account.

“In a nutshell, it’s knowing how to separate your feelings or ‘stuff’ from someone else’s,” says U.K.-based psychologist Dr. Tara Quinn-Cirillo. “As human beings we have our own thoughts, memories, and lived experiences, and sometimes that can become very blurred with someone else’s. Boundaries are healthy for helping you identify and keep that space.”

Whereas security alarms signal when physical boundaries are crossed, you have to rely on your own internal alert systems to determine when your emotional and psychological boundaries are infringed upon.

For example, “If you come away from a meeting or telephone conversation with friends, family, or anyone, feeling depleted, anxious, [or] wound-up, there are probably boundaries being breached,” explains Sally Baker, a senior, licensed, and accredited therapist in London, U.K.

Setting boundaries is beneficial for far more than just defining our identity. Having them in place “limits your exposure to stress and the [body’s] production of adrenaline and cortisol [the stress hormone],” Baker says. “It protects your mental well-being.”

Dr. Quinn-Cirillo agrees that well-being is a key factor, as a lack of boundaries can “lead to emotional and physical fatigue,” especially if you have to deal with the exhausting behaviors of others.

And it doesn’t end there. Boundaries promote a sense of autonomy, says Dr. Quinn-Cirillo, in “that you are in control as far as possible in what you want and don’t want.” They can also “keep you safe in relationships at work, home, and with partners, and that’s really important. ”

Research also shows that blurred boundaries, particularly between work and home life, are linked to unhealthier lifestyles and lower levels of happiness, along with a higher risk of family conflict. So, you’ll want to get yours in check.

Relationship woes? Our advice columnist wants to hear from you!

Submit your anonymous questions here for Sex, Love, and All of the Above from Psych Central sex and relationships writer Morgan Mandriota. Then subscribe to our weekly newsletter to find out if your question is featured.

Not sure how to go about creating boundaries or effectively uphold existing ones? We’ve rounded up some of the best approaches to try.

Enjoy some self-reflection

To successfully introduce and set boundaries, it’s key to understand why they’re each important to you and how they will benefit your emotional well-being.

“Take some time to be a detective of your own psychology,” suggests Baker. “So often stuff happens to people and they feel uncomfortable, but they’re not sure why. The first step in having healthy boundaries in any situation is spending the time to explore what’s happening to you.”

Start small

If you don’t have many boundaries in place already, the prospect of introducing more might seem overwhelming — so build them up slowly.

Doing so allows you to take things at a more comfortable pace, and it provides time to reflect on whether it’s heading in the right direction or if you need to make some tweaks.

Set them early

“Sometimes it can be really hard to start putting boundaries in, especially in pre-existing relationships,” says Dr. Quinn-Cirillo. “If you can put in boundaries straight away, it’s a lot easier to work with.”

By setting boundaries and expectations from the very beginning, everyone knows where they stand, and feelings of hurt, confusion, and frustration can be lessened.

Be consistent

Letting boundaries slide can lead to confusion and encourage new expectations and demands among those around you.

Try keeping things consistent and steady. This helps to reinforce your original thresholds and beliefs, and it ensures those lines remain clearly established.

Create a framework

Dr. Quinn-Cirillo notes that boundaries “vary depending on the type of relationship.” However, if you find it helpful, there’s no reason not to have a few basics in place that can be adapted accordingly.

Consider getting an hour or two of alone time each weekend. This boundary could apply whether you live with a partner, have a busy social schedule with friends, or are close with your family.

Feel free to add extras

In some aspects of our lives, there are boundaries already in place — such as in the workplace. But consider these the minimum. Colleagues will likely have some of their own in place, and it’s okay for you to add some too.

Doing so may even enhance your performance. Austrian researchers found that employees who introduced personal workplace boundaries felt more empowered.

Be aware of social media

These platforms allow for more communication than ever, but they’ve also encouraged some considerable boundary blurring.

“There’s some incredible oversharing happening,” Baker states, and research shows that over half of us are concerned that family and friends will post personal information or photos that we don’t want shared publicly.

If you deem a particular action as boundary-crossing in real life, your concerns are no less valid when it occurs digitally. “You don’t have to expose yourself to social media that’s distressing you,” she adds.

Talk, talk, talk

Communication is critical in the world of boundaries, especially if someone consistently oversteps yours. While you might need to raise your concerns, these discussions need not be confrontational.

For example, if you have a friend who sends messages nonstop, Dr. Quinn-Cirillo suggests saying something along the lines of, “‘I can see you really wanted to get hold of me, but the best thing to do is drop me a message, and I’ll get back to you when I can. ’” This gently highlights their behavior while simultaneously asserting your threshold.

Be your biggest champion

For boundaries to have a strong foundation, you need to show yourself a bit of love, notes Baker. “If you’ve got a narrative in your head that says you’re worthless and undeserving, then you’re going to find it difficult to put boundaries in place that protect you,” she says. “A lot of it comes down to self-worth and self-value.”

It doesn’t take much to start encouraging this mindset either, adds Baker. The more you engage in activities “that release feel-good hormones, like singing, running, or whatever you want to do — things that feed your own heart — then that’s going to help change your internal dialogue and make you feel more deserving.”

Gain some perspective

Not having boundaries can be detrimental to our mental health, but going too far and over-thinking them can also impact our emotional well-being, reveals Dr. Quinn-Cirillo.

“Get a healthy level of thinking about boundaries,” she says. “Have some but don’t be dictated by them. Sometimes you’ve just got to go with your gut instinct. We can forget that we’re actually quite good at navigating most things and are quite intuitive as human beings.”

In addition to setting your own boundaries, it’s important to appreciate those of others, too — even if they’re different from your own. So how can you determine what they are?

Frustratingly, “there’s no magic science,” says Dr. Quinn-Cirillo. “If you’re concerned or unsure, just ask.” Fortunately, the conversation doesn’t have to be awkward or confrontational. “Just general discussion helps,” she continues. “Say something like, ‘Can I message you later?’ or ‘When is it good to message?’ They help start to put a framework in place.”

It’s also about using your common sense. If your partner hates using social media, there’s a good chance they won’t want those coupled-up selfies plastered across your Instagram or Facebook account. Or, if a friend says they don’t want to see a particular movie, don’t pester them until they cave in.

Dr. Quinn-Cirillo reveals that repeatedly violating boundaries “can breed resentment and contempt, and cause people to withdraw.” So there’s no harm in taking a moment to think before you act.

Boundaries are essential for various reasons and look different to everyone. You might be concerned that they will make you seem unfriendly or confrontational, but as this Inside Mental Health podcast from Psych Central reveals, it is possible to maintain them without upsetting those you care about.

Don’t feel guilty about setting boundaries. They’re essentially a form of self-care, and we actively look to incorporate other elements of this into our lives daily — from eating a balanced diet to exercising. This is no different!

It might take some time and consideration to decipher the boundaries most important to you and the best ways to implement them, but your mental well-being will appreciate the effort in the long run.

How to set personal boundaries and protect yourself from toxic people

Anton Bakharev

To constantly protect yourself from toxic people and unhealthy situations, you need to learn how to use boundaries. It is much better to set these boundaries before a destructive person enters your life and causes significant damage. Boundaries are our physical, emotional, sexual, and psychological limits, and hypersensitive people should enforce them even more actively, as they tend to be exploitable. Details - from the book "Toxic People". nine0004

Borders are, in a sense, an electrical barrier designed to protect against toxic people who violate our basic rights, fundamental values and personal sense of security. When you become more aware of your signal zones, you will become more consistent in establishing healthy boundaries with others, driving away toxic personalities before they can enter your personal space.

The following acronym will help you remember what boundaries are and how to maintain them. nine0004

D Express your feelings without apologizing and stick to your line.
R Set boundaries safely and effectively, and cut relationships if your boundaries are not respected.
A emphasize things that are not negotiable, things that are absolutely unacceptable to you.
N Start believing in your worth.
And change the alignment of forces.
C Forfeit your rights.
A focus on self-care.

Talk about your feelings without apologizing. As highly sensitive people, we are trained to apologize for our thoughts, emotions, and reactions. It is important to be able to defend your rights without feeling guilty about it. Apologize only when you did something wrong. If you have a habit of apologizing even for adverse circumstances, and not for real mistakes, start asking yourself daily: “Does the situation require an apology?”

If not, replace "I'm sorry" with "This is annoying. " You can express your disappointment if circumstances are not going well, but if you personally did not have a hand in this, you are not obliged to apologize to anyone. nine0004

Bend your line. When setting any boundaries, there is a chance that they will be violated at first, especially if you are dealing with a toxic person. In this case, you should stubbornly stick to your line, no matter how actively the toxic person tries to convince you otherwise.

Also, repetition will work differently with different types of people. When interacting with aggressive narcissists, repetition is usually not necessary, since such people are not prone to self-reflection. It is much more effective to express your position through actions, introducing boundaries and consistently showing the consequences of their violation (in the form of your absence or, possibly, legal consequences). nine0004

Set boundaries safely and effectively. It's not enough just to know your limits - you have to put them into practice. This takes practice: trial and error to find out what works best for you in certain situations with specific people. For example, you can tell a friend that if she does not confirm her plans by a certain time, you will ask another person to come with you.

However, there are other situations in which the boundary should be immediately established and unambiguously marked. For example, if it is unacceptable for you to listen to a condescending tone, the next time you are shown condescension, you can leave immediately and no longer meet this person. nine0004

An adult is responsible for his own behavior, and you are not obligated to change or educate him. If you encounter a toxic person, it is your duty to yourself to leave as soon as possible. Aggressive narcissists start probing your boundaries early on.

Remember that the word "no" is a complete sentence, not an invitation to negotiate.

If a person regularly tries to challenge your refusals, this is a clear indication that he is ready to violate your boundaries in order to satisfy his own needs. nine0004

Break off relationships if your boundaries are not respected. If your boundaries are constantly violated or you notice red flags, you need to get out of the situation in a safe way. For example, you might consider ways to leave a toxic workplace while also looking for a new job. Be prepared to leave if the person refuses to respect your boundaries and rights.

Emphasize things that are not negotiable. Depending on the type of toxic person you are dealing with, you can at least label things that are non-negotiable for yourself to be aware of. Sometimes it looks like a conversation with a gentle transgressor who is able to understand where the limit is laid. However, if we are talking about a narcissist who does something that is absolutely unacceptable for you, specifically provoking you, it is much better to clearly define for yourself what exactly you are not ready and will not tolerate, and then, when you see disturbing behavior, back off without any any explanations or excuses. nine0004

Your non-negotiable terms may vary depending on the context, but in general they should protect your basic rights as a person worthy of respect and compassion. Such conditions might be: "No one should raise their voice at me" or "No one should speak condescendingly to me."

You may be told that you are too sensitive about how you are treated. However, your discomfort is legitimate and justified and should be spoken about in a confident and healthy way. When interacting with a narcissist who constantly mistreats you, such boundaries should be set immediately after the breakup of the relationship, without any excuses or explanations. With a benign boundary trespasser who is receptive to requests, one can confidently set limits and then step back and observe further behavior. nine0004

Something that is absolutely unacceptable for you. A personal trait that must not be transgressed is something that is non-negotiable, but it is not universal for everyone. Such traits rather reflect our personal comfort level. For example, your reluctance to date a person who does not plan to have children in the future. Someone may have an attitude to only date non-smokers.

From a moral point of view, such unacceptable things cannot be called "right" or "wrong." Their purpose is to protect you, your identity and your investments. They allow you to form healthy romantic and friendly relationships with people whose core values and goals most align with yours. nine0004

Start believing in your worth. First of all, start believing in yourself, get rid of doubts: you are worthy of your limits. To install them, you must be sure that you deserve self-protection and satisfaction of your needs. When you believe that you deserve to be treated well and take steps to place that belief in your subconscious mind, amazing things will start to happen.

You will interact with others more confidently because you will stop automatically repeating to yourself the installation: "I'm not good enough" or "I'm hypersensitive, don't pay attention to me, I'll just bite my tongue and quietly shrink into a ball. " Instead, you will say, "I'm good enough. I am worthy. I deserve respect. I deserve to have my needs met. I'm really sensitive and that's great." nine0004

Change the balance of power. In interpersonal relationships, many highly sensitive people experience helplessness and impotence. They may believe that nothing will change and they will never be able to stand up for themselves due to fear of a direct confrontation. Conflict can be debilitating: it overwhelms the nervous system and forces one to fight, flee, numb, or try to please.

But these are ineffective ways of responding to manipulators. Your reactions play into the hands of the manipulator or jeopardize your safety. Changing the balance of power means learning different ways to deal effectively with a situation. This requires a competent assessment of the pros and cons of your situation, awareness of your discomfort in order to act confidently, learning what can be controlled and changed. nine0004

Appreciate your rights and needs. Redefine your fundamental values and fundamental rights. Repeat to yourself daily that you have the right to protect yourself from abuse, exploitation, and mistreatment. You have the right to respectfully confront toxic behavior and protect yourself from predators. You have the right to interact safely, healthy, and respectfully with others. You have the right to take a break. You have the right to privacy. You have the right not to be a punching bag or an emotional sponge for toxic people. You have the right not to feel sympathy for a person or his behavior. nine0004

Know your core values, explore your needs, and set boundaries that allow those needs to be respected. For example, if you value success, you probably need a partner who will cheer you up and not put you down on your career path. Respect this value and need of yours by keeping people out of your life who don't support your career or ambitions.

You can determine your core values by evaluating experiences that have brought you into conflict with your inner voice or moral guidelines. Perhaps you recently got into an awkward situation when someone asked you to lie for them. In this case, your fundamental value may be honesty. You tend to always tell the truth, even when it's difficult. nine0004

Your core values may include honesty and integrity. You believe that instead of chasing quick pleasures, you need to do the right thing, even if such behavior requires sacrifice on your part.

Emphasis on self-care. Many highly sensitive people, especially those who have experienced childhood abuse or emotional neglect, often ignore their own needs in order to satisfy the desires of others. They develop a "rescuer complex": they constantly rush to help others or play the role of a guardian. This is especially true for people who have at least one of the parents suffered from some kind of addiction or mental illness. nine0004

Due to increased sensitivity and empathy, such people tend to devote themselves to saving others, but forget about saving themselves. This personality trait hinders the ability to set healthy boundaries.

We feel we have an obligation to correct people and end up investing in toxic relationships without getting any positive return.

The only person who benefits from this one-sided relationship is the one to whom we endlessly give our resources. When interacting with a toxic person, it is very important to put self-care first. You are not someone's personal psychotherapist (unless you really work as a psychotherapist, but even then you need to set professional boundaries with clients). And this is not selfishness. When you put your own well-being first, you can help others more persistently and effectively than if you completely exhausted your resources. nine0004

The acronym BORDER includes basic guidelines for dealing with all types of toxic people. This means that you need to adapt the described steps based on whether you are dealing with a benignly or malignantly destructive person. In any case, the goal is to become strong from a helpless hypersensitive person.

Prepared from Toxic People.

I'm in the house: how to set boundaries correctly

Personal boundaries are lines that run between individuals, the people around them, and larger social systems. They are needed so that we can clearly feel: where I am, and where I am not; where are my own emotions, actions, beliefs and thoughts, and where are others. And if these emotions and thoughts are mine, then I am responsible for them and control them. Borders also protect our inner world from outside encroachment.

Finished reading here

They may look like a five-meter stone fence with barbed wire and machine gunners on the towers. Or they may be absent altogether - all the doors will be wide open. Boundaries can change depending on the context and environment, become solid for some people and completely blurred for others. nine0004

Personal boundaries can be opened for "import", when we gladly accept other people's help, resources, time, money, etc., or for "export" - our own resources. We usually import what we especially need, and we export either what we have in abundance, or what we hope to get a good price for.

Borders are needed to mark two important questions:

1. What do I consider my property (and, accordingly, I will protect)?

2. What am I responsible for (and will try to control)? nine0004

Boundary checking

How does this manifest itself in specific behavior? There are people for whom property boundaries can be very arbitrary. Such a person does not consider anything his own, inviolable, he "does not become attached to things." He cannot close himself in his room because he considers it impolite. Such people cannot refuse help or money, even realizing that this money will not come back. Their borders are always open for imports, it is important for them that people see them as kind, generous and open. It's a way to build relationships. Sometimes they even think that having nothing of their own is safer. nine0004

The opposite type is people whose boundaries are too extended. They consider everything their property - wife, children, employees, office or apartment space, other people's things and time. They do not see other people's boundaries and do not consider it necessary to observe them. Wherever such a person is, there is always “too much” of him, he captures the space around him. And if he was not given something in a good way, he can take it away "in a bad way. "

Two "extreme" types also exist in relation to responsibility. There are people who take on too much, trying to control what is beyond their control. Such a wife thinks that her husband yelled at her because she did not have time to set the table on time or did not clean up well enough. People agree with every charge brought against them. The logic is this: if I tried better (guessed other people's desires and did everything right), then this would magically change those around me, make them happy and loving. People with such a strategy of thinking lack recognition and praise, they are ready to do everything to get this simple currency. nine0004

The other extreme is characters who are not ready to take responsibility not only for others, but also for themselves. They do not see their contribution to the development of conflict situations, do not accept criticism and try to avoid any obligations. If you entrust them with a project, they will either require a partner or will come running every half hour with questions and clarifications so that the responsibility does not lie with them (or at least not with them alone). Men with a fear of responsibility are almost elusive for marital or paternal obligations. They consider them a violation of their boundaries, because the family will force them to change their usual way of life. nine0004

Border Guard Day

How to define your borders and protect them? Unfortunately, you cannot put up pegs and notify others that “this half a meter of land around me is my territory, do not enter without knocking.” Although, in fact, this is exactly what young ladies with long puffy skirts did in the old days.

In my trainings I often do a simple exercise. I ask a person to designate a limit invisible to others, and I begin to slowly approach it - step by step. The task of the participant is to make it clear without words that I am already close to the point that I do not need to cross. The reaction is very different. Someone is very calm at first and only at the last moment begins to frown. Someone, on the contrary, from my first step “gets into a pose” and puts on “boxing gloves”. Very polite people let me close, with a bewildered smile on their face. And only then it turns out that I have long passed the intended border. There was also such an “intelligent” reaction: when a person understands that I am not going to stop and provoke him to more obvious actions, he himself takes a step back, leaving his integrity stable. But in order to stay at a safe distance from me, he has to give up his territory. nine0004

I don't know how you would react in this exercise. Think about it.

You can defend your borders in different ways in different situations. The ability to say "no" (without the subsequent sprinkling of ashes on the head!) Is an important personality skill. It is necessary for those who easily succumb to pressure, aggression and other "honest ways of taking money."

The ability to create and protect one's own boundaries, of course, is formed even by parents. But over the course of life (and with different people), boundaries can change many times. Teenagers, for example, protect them militantly, they need this life period in order to separate from their parents and learn to build their own lives on their own, to respect themselves. And couples in love sometimes completely dissolve in each other, and only then they begin to notice that it has become crowded. If you do not revise the rules of interaction in time, do not outline the circle of your interests, then the couple comes to a crisis or even breaks up. nine0004

Like any other skill, the ability to see and respect one's own and others' boundaries may well be mastered at a later period of time.

How to defend your territory

How do you react to a yelling boss? Do you get nervous before public speaking? Are you able to refuse requests from loved ones if they are inconvenient for you? Do children have the right to disagree with you, to close in their room? How do you feel when your spouse (or best friend) said something “wrong”? Do you want to suggest, correct, give a cuff, shame, do you think that the actions of loved ones “dishonor your reputation”? nine0004

The skill of respecting other people's boundaries is, first of all, allowing other people to be different from you.

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