In our busy lives, its difficult to juggle work, school, family, mental health, and physical health all at the same time. We may often find ourselves overwhelmed with the stresses of life. In moments like these, it is important to prioritize your peace. How do you do that? It’s simple! It is by setting boundaries with yourself and others. Here are 5 ways to protect your peace in your day-to-day activities and interactions.
Turn Your Work Phone Off After a Certain Hour
Unless you are on call, the stress of work should be left at work. Your home should be your sanctuary, your place of rest. Taking your work home often invites a stressful environment that is carried from your workplace. Make a commitment to yourself that after a certain hour, you simply will not respond to work calls and/or emails. Protect your peace at home.
Don’t Take Things Too Personally
This is something that may take time to learn and understand. Sometimes we take offense of things by merely going off of the words that were said that hurt us, rather than the intention. Some things are simply not worth taking personally. Don’t let somebody else’s perception and opinion of you affect what you think of yourself. Pick your battles but prioritize your peace.
Walking Away
Walking away from something or someone that disturbs your peace can be literal or metaphorical. Walk away from the person that causes you constant anxiety, from conversations that boil your blood, from environments that bring out a side of you that you don’t like. Limit your exposure to things or people that are the source of negativity in your life. Walking away from things that don’t serve your purpose can help you gain clarity in your life and find peace.
Don’t Be Afraid to Say “No”
Making time for yourself can come at the expense of saying “no” to someone or something. We are adults and its okay to choose ourselves when we need to. Saying no is a brave act that shows how valuable you and your time are, it shows confidence for standing your ground, and it shows that you know what you want. It allows us to pick and choose where we put our time and energy and helps us channel it to the right people, and things, in our lives that add peace.
Find Time to Be Alone
Finding peace in solitude is probably one of the most common actions that we know of to attain enlightenment. Being alone can look like meditating, going for a walk, taking a swim, or even locking yourself in your office for 3 minutes to do some breathing exercises. Being alone is a great way to pause, rest, and take a second to reflect. Allowing yourself some quiet time can help you calm your anxiety and stresses and give you a chance to get in touch with how you think and feel.
Protecting your peace is a personal journey that begins when you make the decision to set personal boundaries for yourself and others. You can protect your peace by taking control of your life and walking away from things and situations that are the source of your troubles. By choosing who you surround yourself with and how you react, you are also choosing how to protect your peace.
By : Christine Gimonge
