When you’re single and don’t have children, it’s easy to set healthy boundaries.
You do what you want, when you want.
You workout in the mornings, meet up for drinks after work, go to bed when you feel like it, and enjoy your hobbies on weekends.
Life is about you and only you.
You make time for yourself, and you naturally make yourself a priority.
So what changes when you’re in a relationship?
What changes when you have children?
For many people, not a whole lot changes. But for others, unfortunately everything does. They go from being happy and having full control over their life to feeling unhappy, unbalanced, and resentful.
Why the drastic change?
If you haven’t learned the skill of setting healthy boundaries, it’s not too late.
Whether you’re single or married with 5 children, your health, your needs, and your boundaries should be cherished, respected and valued.
Setting healthy boundaries and putting yourself first is essential.
I recognize that this is often challenging for people, however, with practice, people can learn this skill. Many individuals are unable to express their needs and are unable to say ‘no’ to others.
As time passes, they may not even recognize themselves.
Having let go of their hobbies and personal interests, they often find themselves exhausted and depleted. This is a recognized form of emotional self-abuse and can lead to anxiety, depression and other health issues.
Feelings of resentment, anger, and sadness towards yourself and loved ones can be prevented if you honour your limits, and stop saying ‘yes’ when you really mean ‘no’.
Self-care should always be your priority.
Setting healthy boundaries is not being selfish.
It’s healthy and necessary and the only person that can lay the foundation down is YOU.
You may fear getting a negative response if you enforce your boundaries, however, being courageous and overcoming these fears can make all the difference in your happiness and well-being.
People will treat you based on how they see you treat yourself.
And, if you’re neglecting yourself and putting everybody else’s needs first, they may not honour or respect your needs, simply because you aren’t.
Spend some time alone and ask yourself, “what do you need?”
If you don’t honour your needs, you may be left resenting your partner, your coworkers, or even your children.
If you feel like the expectations placed on you are too high, it’s up to you to communicate this.
Mothers that I see in clinical practice especially struggle with this. Doing everything for everybody around them can sadly leave them feeling drained, resentful, and unbalanced.
Remember, you can’t help others and do great things if you’re unhappy and depleted.
You’re the only person who can fill your cup.
You’re responsible for your health, your well-being, and your happiness. Self-care should always be your #1 priority.
It’s only when you are happy with yourself that you can bring your light, your passion, and your brightness to those around you.
Dr. Sara has appeared on multiple radio shows/podcasts, the W Network, Breakfast Television and CP24. For almost 5 years, she worked as the National Spokesperson for a well-known digestive wellness brand, educating across the globe on gut health. Dr. Sara has been named a rising star in Canada receiving the Generation Next award for her outstanding contribution to shaping the future of Canada’s grocery industry. She frequently contributes to large publications and has been published in Best Health Magazine, The Globe and Mail, Sweat Equity, Grocery Business, Inside Fitness, Canadian Living, Elevate, HELLO, and ELLE Canada.
Dr. Sara’s approach to healthcare is not as easy as taking a pill. The “quick-fix” approach is not one she subscribes to. While there’s a pill for just about everything, rarely do prescription drugs stop the course of disease - they merely mask symptoms. Dr. Sara believes true health requires a commitment from both the doctor and the patient.
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