Learn to Set (and Stick to) Healthy Boundaries - Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation - Find Your Balance challenge - Day 2
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You can’t have a healthy work-life balance without boundaries. Setting and enforcing personal limits helps reduce stress, prevent burnout, and enhance mental and emotional health. And when you establish boundaries, you create a sense of control over your time and energy.
We admit that putting your foot down (and holding your ground) isn’t always easy. Society often praises a "yes" or “can-do” attitude, which pressures you to prioritize others' needs over your own. And many of us have a fear of disappointing others, being perceived as uncooperative, or jeopardizing professional relationships.
For your own well-being, we’re challenging you to lay down some boundaries both at work and at home. This could include:
- Turning down a request to work on your day off: You can say, "I appreciate the offer, but I have personal commitments on my day off that I can't change. I hope you understand."
- Politely declining an extra workload: "Thanks for thinking of me. Right now, I've got a lot on my plate and want to make sure I can give everything the attention it deserves. Can we chat about how to juggle or share the workload?"
- Turning off your work brain while at home: If appropriate, turn off work-related notifications and avoid checking emails while you're at home to avoid interruptions.
Overcoming the societal expectation to say "yes" to everything requires practice and self-awareness. Remember that establishing boundaries is a crucial act of self-care. It's a skill that, once learned, can have a major impact on your overall wellness.
See how real nurses use this advice. One #healthynurse, Carolyn Huffman, WHNP, PhD, prioritizes her mental health by saying “no” when necessary.
How do you set boundaries? Let us know here or reply on Twitter, in our private Facebook group or Instagram. Remember to tag us with #healthynurse!
Missed day 1? Catch up here. Join us on day 3.
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01/18/2024 10:13am CST
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