Givers Need Boundaries Because Takers Don’t Have Any

We’ve all encountered someone who has drained you of something (time, effort, money, etc.) without giving much in return. Often times people who are accustomed to someone dropping everything for them have no limits and will push you until you have nothing left to give.

Whether these ‘takers’ are your family, your partner, or work colleagues it’s time to set some boundaries in your life.

‘Takers’ are more than comfortable filling up your schedule for you without considering how this will affect you and your life.

Considering the circumstances that a global health crisis has brought us to, many of us have more time at home now. If we’re home more often we should be able to get more done. Right?

Often times this persistent pressure to achieve more, do more, and be more can lead to burnout.

If you don’t know what burnout is just know that I truly envy you, but honestly, you’ve probably experienced this at one time or another and just haven’t quite placed your finger on it yet.

So, what is burnout?

According to Psychology Today, burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress.

Boundaries with partners, bosses, and family help us to avoid burnout by preventing the stress of feeling obligated to overwork ourselves.

Creating Boundaries

To create boundaries, you first have to dissect your emotional and physical needs. This may be difficult if you’ve been putting aside your own well-being for long enough. However, it is a crucial step in setting boundaries that truly help your life.

Never exchange your values and limits to make another person more comfortable. Your needs are just as important as theirs, and you should not constantly put others above your own health.

Be assertive and respectful when setting boundaries. Setting boundaries is not a bad thing. There are many people who might find themselves offended when you attempt to set a boundary, but you have to remember that you aren’t doing anything wrong. Be kind, but don’t get bullied into caving in.

Setting boundaries can be a difficult and even lengthy process, but the first steps are always the hardest ones. The more accustomed you become to setting boundaries that are comfortable for you the easier it will become. Setting boundaries is a practical and uplifting way to bring back your empowerment and positively impact your quality of life.

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Previously published on medium

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