So I wanted to share a little bit of a recent step I made, and I hope it may help anyone else on here!

I struggle with setting boundaries and self-prioritizing in almost any context, and I'm trying to get better at it. Recently, a friend suggested an outing (back-to-back with another planned event). I had to tell myself that although I may really *want* to go and may feel bad declining, in this instance, it was best for me to say no thanks.

If someone is really your friend, they will never be upset by you setting a boundary. (Happily, I have great friends who are good about these things!) And yes, boundaries don't just have to be about personal possessions or touching! They can be about many things, including time. You don't have to say yes to everything just because you have the time. I know that I technically have *time* on that day, and can do it, but after class, work, and the other social outing, I know my social battery and general mental and physical energy will be quite low. 

My brain tries to say that it's the right thing to do, because they're my friends and spending time with them should be fun- I should always want as much of it as I can. But it's not selfish, it doesn't make me a bad friend or a lame person, or any other things my brain tries to tell me.

Thanks for reading, and I wish you all luck in your own journeys, especially in the task of boundary-setting if you struggle with it!