Boundaries Aren’t Mean - They’re Maintenance.

Somewhere along the line, we started treating boundaries like a bad thing. Like saying no is selfish. Like protecting your time and energy means you don’t care about other people.

Let’s set the record straight: boundaries aren’t mean. They’re maintenance.

Your mental health is like any other resource - finite. If you let people take and take without limits, you end up bitter, drained, and resentful. And trust me, that version of you isn’t doing anyone any favors.

Psychologists describe boundaries as a healthy way to define where you end and someone else begins. Without them, relationships get messy fast.

So stop apologizing for saying no. Stop explaining yourself to people who benefit from your lack of boundaries. And stop feeling guilty for choosing yourself over what other people expect of you.

Because the people who respect your boundaries are the ones worth keeping close. And the ones who don’t? Were never really on your side to begin with.