How to Set Boundaries Without Guilt (3 Nurse-Approved Tips)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfcr1YpQxMI

Do you feel guilty every time you have to say "no" to a loved one?

As a nurse and Ayurvedic counselor, I see caregivers burning out not because they don't care enough, but because they care too much without protecting their own energy (Prana).

In this video, I’m sharing 3 "Micro-Boundaries"—invisible energetic seals you can use right now to lower your cortisol and stop the energy leaks without a big confrontation.

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You think setting boundaries means sitting your loved one in front of you for a big scary talk.But  because you are exhausted, and just because you love them, then you don't do it. And then you burnt out

But as a nurse and Ayurvedic practitioner I can tell you the most effective boundaries are not the big announcements. They are the tiny invisible seal that protects your energy, your prana, without anyone knowing that you are doing it.

Today I am going to give you three specific micro boundaries that you can use right now to stop the leak, lower your cortisol and care for your loved one without losing yourself.

So think about your energy like a water bucket (in Ayurveda we call that Ojas) that's your reserve of energy. When we fail to set up boundaries, it's not always a giant spill. It's usually a hundred tiny drips, drips, drips. A text that you answer immediately, a yes when you meant to really say maybe or even like worry that you carry to bed with you.

Every micro boundaries, plug these holes. They stop the Prana leak and from a physiological perspective, it's simply that your nervous system stopped to be all the time on fight or flight and it's allowing your cortisol level to actually drop.

The first micro-boundaries is the physiological pause.

when you get a phone call, or your loved one called you or called your name, your body likely tents up instantly. This is a stressed response.

So instead of reacting immediately, what about your boundaries is a three seconds delay. You take a full inhale and exhale before you pick up the phone or walk into the room.

you aren't saying no to them. you are just saying yes to your own nervous system. And these tiny gaps allow you to respond from a place of calm, sattva, rather than a reactive place, rajas.

The second example of micro boundaries that are very effective are the time containers.

Often we feel guilty because our help feels completely open-ended and so the timing container fixes this. instead of saying, yes, I'll come and clean, which feels infinite and draining. 

You can say, I will help you clean, but I'm only available between 2 and 2.45. This is clinical precision. It manages their expectationnand it protects your energy reserves. You can be fully present for that 45 minutes because you know there's an end in sight. 

And the last micro boundary I want to talk about today is the transitional seal.

This is crucial for caregivers who go and visit their parents or work outside the home. Before you walk through the door, before you start caregiving, you do not bring the chaotic energy of the road with you.

So you can sit in your car for two minutes, you visualize sealing your energy field, you leave the distress in the car, you're walking fresh. Protect them from your stress, and that's protecting you from burnout.

You can see that these microboundaries do not require any fight with your loved one. None of them require a guilt trip and  all of them protect your energy.

I want you to just try one, the pause, the time container, or the seal. so put in the comments if you tried one of these so I can cheer you up,

And if you need help mastering that transitional seal, you know, in the car,I have a five minute seated meditations designed exactly for that moment. The link is here. It's free. It helps you reset your nervous system before you go through that door.

Thank you for watching. Remember, caring for yourself is part of caring for them.

Ciao and see you in the next video.