Adjusting to the virtual way of the world has been a hot topic lately. You might have noticed yourself becoming more reliant on your devices than ever before. During this adjustment, it is important to find ways to stay present. Establishing and setting boundaries can be helpful in your pursuit of staying present while engaging in online activities. 

What is a boundary? A boundary is line (real or virtual) which creates a defined place where your responsibility ends and another person’s begins, or where one part of your life ends and another begins. An easier way to understand boundaries is to think of a line in the sand that you can draw to honor your own needs. This line can be ever-changing due to changing circumstances. One essential part of boundary work is checking in with yourself to see how you feel and adjusting your boundaries accordingly.

Boundaries create space for you to still feel like you are living in the here and now (present) and help you avoid distractions by others or from the virtual world.

Here are tips on setting boundaries in our virtual world:

1. Identify times when you feel frustrated or overwhelmed while using devices

Recognize places in your life that feel overwhelming or cause frustration. In these cases, you can ask yourself if there is there an identifiable boundary you can set. 

For example, if you find yourself endlessly scrolling on Instagram, check in and see how this makes you feel. If you find it makes you feel overwhelmed or distracted, you could set a boundary around how you engage with Instagram.

Another example is setting a boundary around where you work in your home. A boundary could be that you do not bring your work laptop into your bedroom. 

2. Set the boundary!

Once you have identified areas of your virtual life in which you want to set boundaries, you can start to set them. Pick one or two boundaries to focus on at first and continue to check in with yourself to adjust boundaries to help you feel your best! 

Bonus Tip: You can help hold yourself accountable by writing down the boundary you’d like to honor. This can be a helpful way to remind yourself of what you are trying to accomplish!

As you learn more about your desire for boundaries in your life, you will be able to set them more freely. Boundaries are helpful in coming back to the present moment and being aware of your own emotions. 

If you would like to learn more about boundary setting or discuss how to be more present and engaged, please reach out to Hello@UpsiderTherapy.com.