The Importance of Creating Boundaries By Natalie Rodriguez-Steen As we are getting used to social distancing and quarantining, we have been forced to make adjustments to our daily lives to continue functioning while we live under one roof with our relatives, significant others, or roommates – all the time. When work, play, social, and family time all exist within the same space, we must create clear boundaries around our time and space. For those with children, the adjustment to working at home is difficult and requires navigation. A lack of sustainable income can also add to the stress of living at home during these uncertain times. Since we are all trying to maintain our lives and sanity within our new reality, here are a few ways we can create boundaries in order to do this. Boundaries in shared living spaces: We have to remember that it is okay to take personal time away from the chaos. If you share your living space, that break can be necessary to your mental health. A clear divide on when you are taking personal time over time with your family or others is vital. You must decide for yourself what that boundary looks like and how it manifests itself but make sure to be clear when setting any boundary so that others understand the importance of the time “away” from the shared living area. For some this might be a walk alone, it could be some time to sleep or relax in bed, a time to watch a favorite tv show, or simply some time to take a bath. Regardless of what it looks like, these small divisions can be helpful to our mental health when we need to take a break from our shared space. Boundaries with technology: Technological advances are wonderful and innovative for our lives during the pandemic. Sometimes we let the technology seep into our daily lives in unintentional ways – there is such a thing as too much technology. Therefore, in the process of setting boundaries with our shared living space, we can also set boundaries with our virtual lives. These boundaries can include taking breaks from reading,
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