6 tips to establish better personal boundaries

You are pulled in a hundred different directions on a daily basis, and there is always a task to be done and seemingly very little time to complete it. This is why it’s so important to set boundaries with your time, business, and energy. Fortunately, we have 6 tips to help you reclaim your life. 

1. Vocalize personal and professional boundaries

Days and times of availability for personal and professional settings. Communicating your boundaries is a sure-fire way to ensure people-pleasing doesn’t take over your life.

2. Practice saying No 

Repeating an action increases confidence and improves performance. Learning to say No becomes easier when you practice saying it aloud. 

3. Don’t Commit Right Away 

Instead of agreeing immediately when asked something, take your time to think about it. Phrases like “I’ll get back to you” or “let me check my calendar” will present time to assess your thoughts. Don’t feel like you need to say yes to avoid hurting someone’s feelings.

4. Adjust how you respond 

You may find that saying “I’m not able to do it right now”, “I have a prior commitment”, and “No, thank you” sound a lot better than simply saying No.

5. Be Direct and Firm with your Answer

When you decline, you are not obligated to provide a reason why. Don’t let someone talk you into or out of things. People can be pushy, so be firm and avoid committing to something in the future. 

6. Embrace the Guilt & Move On

You may feel bad saying No in the moment, but don't let that guilt force you to commit to something you have no desire to do. There will be other events and opportunities when you have the time and availability. Give yourself permission to stop people-pleasing.