5 Ways to Immediately Reclaim Your Time & Peace

Let’s talk boundaries. They’re the most beautiful gift we can give ourselves, and also the most difficult. 

Why? Because setting boundaries means putting our own emotional peace, margin, and mental health ahead of what everyone else in your life is asking of you. 

….. Which can be really, really (really!) hard. For women, I’ve noticed especially so, as innate nurturers, caretakers & uplifters of others, as moms, wives, aunties, sisters and friends— we often take on an unintentional “them first” stance, putting our own care and desires and health second.

I’ll speak for myself when I say it has sometimes felt more natural to put my family’s needs above my own, or to not honor my emotions or feelings because it meant potentially making someone else feel uncomfortable. As a empath, a feeler, and an enneagram 2, those are my natural inclinations, no matter the situation.

It’s taken some true awareness and the decision to prioritize my own inner peace FIRST, so that I can actually help and be of MORE service to those I love, and to those around me. That’s the equation most of us never get taught. 

We’re told to put everyone else, their priorities and needs, before ours, and then make do with whatever leftover scraps of time we have to try and fill our own cups. You’re thought of as a kind person, a good person, a caring and loving person if you do so.

But the reality of it? The truth? All that actually does is make you bitter, resentful, exhausted, burnt out and stressed out. And not in a position to truly listen, to love others patiently, to take care of them deeply, to take care of yourself deeply, etc. And not your best self— the one that YOU and THEY deserve.

There is no margin in your life for growth, expansion, and feeling full in your soul if every part of you is given out first, and there are no leftovers.

Some of you may not agree with me. That’s fine. What I’m saying goes against the grain of everything we’re taught and conditioned.

But doing so has changed my life for the better— it’s changed my calendar, the time I have for the things that actually matter in my life (including growth, time for myself, time for my health, etc), its changed my marriage and changed how I view and operate in motherhood. I refuse to be the victim. Or to be exhausted and burnt out or resentful because I didn’t set up energetic boundaries.

It’s something we can control, and can implement, at any time.

And that’s what makes boundaries so powerful, and so peaceful— that they might not always feel comfortable, but they have the capacity to protect us on so many levels. Our heart and spirit, our physical body, our mental capacity and emotional health.

Yes, at first it  might not be the most natural thing—you might feel a little guilty or be tempted to give in “just this once”…… but it does get easier. And it can free up so much space in your life that can be used to fill you (and others up) around you. 

So today, I want to share 5 boundaries today you can easily set (like, today!) for more time, ease and peace in your life.

Think of it as self-care in its highest form, because that’s truly what GOOD boundaries are.

5 boundaries you can easily set:

1. Audit your screen time.

Start simply with turning your phone off or into airplane mode at 8pm. This is so healthy for so many parts of you: your hormones, anxiety, sleep, mindset and nervous system. The body needs time to “detox” from being in reaction mode and intaking mode all day long. Let it go into its more natural state of simply being rather than responding, interacting and viewing 100 things at once.

You can also set personal boundaries for social media and email, if you use it. This is so healthy to protect against “task switching” in the brain, endless hours lost by mindless scrolling and distraction from what’s important overall.

My suggestion? Have certain times of day you set to check both. Set a timer if needed. Get in, do what you need to do, then get out. The constant checking/refreshing/scrolling is such an energy suck on your brain, mentality and overall vibration. 

2. Think about your consumption of technology overall. 

What do YOU want it to look like? Curate and be protective about who you allow into your energy field. That means who you follow online, how people are able to contact you and when, what you allow to influence you. What sources, people and things help you be a better person when you consume them? On the flip side, which ones do the opposite? 

Take an inventory. Choose your top 5 people, things or resources that are a positive influence on your life and give the rest a pause for a bit. (Things to look at: people you follow on social media, TV shows you watch, newsletters you subscribe to, etc. etc.)

See how you feel after taking a week or two off from so many technology outlets. You might find that keeping up with so much doesn’t really add value to your life and was more draining than you would have thought.

 3. Practice saying no (without apologizing, guilt or shame). Own your space and own your life.