What Types Of Boundaries Are There?
By Dr. Stella C DO
Board Certified Internal Medicine
Reading Time:
1 minute
Compassionate people ask for what they need. They say no when they need to, and when they say yes, they mean it. They’re compassionate because their boundaries keep them out of resentment.– Brené Brown
Boundaries are about taking care of ourselves, being mindful of our limits, and asking for what we need.
We establish boundaries to help protect our time, our emotions, our sanity and to help us take better care of ourselves. Boundaries are not created to keep others out, but rather, they are invitations to bring others closer by having them show up in ways that keep us in mind and allow us to feel seen and understood! Communicating personal boundaries with loved ones, friends, and acquaintances is an undeniable act of self-care. You are worth it and those with whom you may be spending time with and sharing space must take you into account and adapt to better promote your well-being.
What types of boundaries are there?
- Around conversations – Stating out loud that you do not want to engage in certain conversations or quietly leaving a conversation are two examples of setting a boundary that protects you from undue anxiety, fear and stress. This is designed to keep you stable and emotionally regulated
- Around personal space – Maintain a space to escape to and practice self-care and rest. We all need alone time and it’s our job during this quarantine period to take care of ourselves by asking for it
- Around what we control – Accept that you can’t control other people’s actions or the decisions. Whenever you find your emotions becoming heightened due to another person’s actions or decisions, say to yourself, “I am only responsible for myself.”
Is setting boundaries part of your self-care?