Set a boundary by stating the situation, a participation limit, and the action you can take. A request asks another person to change; a boundary remains meaningful even if the request is declined.
A worked situation: Unconfirmed project assignments
Fictional example. A reader asks a group to stop adding her to new projects without checking. She also states that she will confirm assignments only after reviewing capacity, rather than assuming every added name is an accepted commitment.
Work through these questions: Unconfirmed project assignments
| Question or field | Fictional completed example |
|---|---|
| Situation? | Unconfirmed project assignments |
| Request? | Check before assigning |
| Limit? | No automatic acceptance |
| Owned action? | Confirm only feasible assignments |
| Review? | Check commitments weekly |
Turn a general limit into an owned action
Name the situation, what you request, and what you will do if the arrangement does not work. Avoid a consequence you cannot or should not carry out. Shared duties may require agreement rather than unilateral withdrawal. A boundary describes your participation; it does not guarantee another person’s acceptance or substitute for protection in a threatening situation.