Tips and Tricks to Setting Healthy Boundaries with Family During the Holidays

Stress is a major culprit to gaining weight or dealing with other health problems over the holidays. Allowing family stress to ruin the holidays' joy and fun is avoidable. This is why establishing and understanding your healthy boundaries and others is important to get started now before it is too late.

Boundaries allow you to manage or eliminate your stress so you can enjoy the holidays and not sabotage your health. Through boundaries, you are simply opening communication to let your loved ones know how you want to be treated or what is expected of you to live a happy and healthy life concerning their values.

The following tips for setting healthy boundaries and why it is important to do during the holidays:

Change Your Perspective on the Word "No"

Saying no does not have to be a negative thing. Just because you are declining food or a particular event doesn't mean it will hurt their feelings or be dramatic. When you answer yes to something, you are actually dropping another opportunity, too, without realizing it. Therefore, you need to be sure you always make the right decisions for yourself. If you want to say no, decline respectfully.

Avoid Excuses and Have Open Communication

Be clear about why you are setting a specific boundary, and don't feel guilty about it. However, be sure you are honest about it and clearly communicate why you need to develop a certain boundary. This is also important to be sure you are not crossing any limitations with your family as well. This means avoiding making excuses or lies just to get out of it. Excuses only provide details to others that are not true to yourself. For example, you have every right not to eat or participate in something. So be honest about it.

Share Them Early and Be Clear

Let your family know your boundaries right away and even ask theirs in return, especially if you are worried about your health. Let them know your limitations and expectations nicely, and don't expect anything in return.

Expect Some to React Negatively but Don't Take It Personally

In the end, some of your family may not have the best reaction to your boundaries. However, it is important to take a moment to step back and not react personally or right away. Often, negative reactions are only a misunderstanding, and you may have to take some time to clarify that it's not about them. Meaning they believe your boundary reflects that you have a problem with them. Of course, this is not true, and you just need to be understanding and communicate it.

Be sure not to react the same. While boundaries are important, it is natural that some will have a negative reaction. However, as you provide more details in a calm and detailed way, they will understand as time goes on.

Have you already had this conversation with your family? How did it go? I'd love to hear how it went. Please leave your story in the comments below. Blessings.