{"id":27184,"date":"2026-03-04T11:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T03:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/?post_type=oasis-news&p=27184"},"modified":"2026-02-06T13:15:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T05:15:26","slug":"three-ways-to-set-healthy-boundaries","status":"publish","type":"oasis-news","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/oasis-news\/three-ways-to-set-healthy-boundaries\/","title":{"rendered":"Three ways to set healthy boundaries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Reading time: 3 minutes<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Uni life is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. Between classes, assignments, part-time jobs, social events and personal responsibilities, it\u2019s easy to feel stretched too thin. Setting healthy boundaries can help you manage your time and energy, protect your mental health and improve your relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are three practical ways to establish boundaries that work for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Learn to say \u201cno\u201d without guilt<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Saying \u201cno\u201d can be uncomfortable, especially if you\u2019re worried about disappointing others. But overcommitting often leads to burnout, and that\u2019s not fair to anyone\u2014including yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start by identifying your priorities. If a request doesn\u2019t align with them or if you simply don\u2019t have the capacity, it\u2019s okay to decline. For instance, if a friend asks for help with their project the night before your exam, it\u2019s perfectly reasonable to explain that you need to study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t have to give long explanations. A simple, polite response like, \u201cI\u2019d love to help, but I can\u2019t right now,\u201d is enough. Practice being firm yet kind. The more you do it, the easier it gets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Set clear limits on your time and availability<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

With so many demands on your schedule, it\u2019s important to protect your time. This might mean dedicating certain hours to studying, working or resting\u2014and letting others know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, if you\u2019re working on a group project, communicate your availability early. You could say, \u201cI\u2019m available to meet on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, but I can\u2019t do late nights.\u201d This helps set expectations and ensures you\u2019re not sacrificing your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, consider limiting distractions like constant mobile notifications. Turn off your phone or mute group chats during focused study sessions. People will understand if you\u2019re not available 24\/7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Prioritise your wellbeing in relationships<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Healthy boundaries are just as important in friendships and relationships as they are in academics or work. Sometimes, people might unintentionally cross lines, like expecting you to be available all the time or pressuring you to share personal details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be honest about what makes you comfortable. If a friend frequently shows up unannounced when you need downtime, let them know in a caring way. You could say, \u201cI value our time together, but I also need some quiet moments to recharge. Can we plan hangouts instead of dropping by unexpectedly?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Healthy boundaries also mean recognising your limits emotionally. If someone is venting about their problems and it\u2019s becoming overwhelming, let them know gently that you need a break. Supporting others is important, but not at the cost of your own mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why boundaries matter<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Boundaries aren\u2019t about shutting people out\u2014they\u2019re about creating space for yourself to thrive. They help you build stronger relationships, avoid unnecessary stress and maintain balance in your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, it\u2019s okay to put yourself first sometimes. Setting healthy boundaries isn\u2019t selfish\u2014it\u2019s essential for your wellbeing. And when you take care of yourself, you\u2019ll be in a better position to succeed and support those around you. Start small, be consistent and trust that the people who truly care about you will respect your boundaries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve got this!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Setting healthy boundaries isn\u2019t selfish\u2014it\u2019s essential for your wellbeing. Here are three practical ways to establish boundaries that work for you. | Reading time: 3 mins<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4418,"featured_media":25549,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"8410,8592,5504,5555,7226,7963","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","wds_primary_oasis-categories":0,"footnotes":""},"oasis-categories":[146,149],"class_list":["post-27184","oasis-news","type-oasis-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","oasis-categories-student-life","oasis-categories-wellbeing"],"acf":{"post_options":{"":null,"banner":{"image":false}}},"featured_image":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/lauras-article-image-cropped-1000x1000.jpg","author_meta":{"first_name":"Rachelle","last_name":"Erzay","display_name":"Rachelle Erzay"},"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-13 15:03:40","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"oasis-categories","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-news\/27184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/oasis-news"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4418"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-news\/27184\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25549"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"oasis-categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-categories?post=27184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}