If You Don’t Want People To Take You For Granted Say Goodbye To These Habits

We’ve all been there. People taking you for granted, treating you as if you’re always available, always ready to help. It’s exhausting, right?

Well, it might be time to reflect. See, people treat us based on how we allow them to. And certain habits can signal to others that it’s okay to take advantage of us.

So, if you’re tired of being taken for granted, it’s time to say goodbye to those habits. In this article, I’ll share with you the key habits you need to kick to the curb.

Stay tuned if you want to reclaim your value and demand the respect you deserve.

1) Always being available

There’s a fine line between being helpful and being taken for granted.

And if you’re always available, always willing to drop everything to help out, you might be straddling that line. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to be there for other people. But it’s also important to have boundaries.

Here’s the thing: when you’re constantly at someone’s beck and call, they begin to expect it from you. They start to see your time and effort as a given, rather than something they should appreciate.

It’s like that old saying: “Familiarity breeds contempt.” When you’re always available, your help becomes familiar, ordinary, expected.

So, try this: next time someone needs your help, take a moment to consider if it’s really necessary for you to step in right away. If it isn’t, let them know you’ll help when you have time.

It might feel weird at first. You might even feel guilty. But remember: by setting boundaries, you’re teaching people to value your time and effort. And that’s a crucial step towards not being taken for granted.

2) Overcommitting myself

I’ll let you in on a little secret: I used to be the queen of overcommitment. You needed someone to bake cookies for the school fundraiser? I was your girl. Your car broke down and you needed a ride? I was there. You were overwhelmed with work and needed someone to share the load? Yep, that was me.

What I didn’t realize back then was that by overcommitting myself, I was sending a message that my own time, my own needs, didn’t matter. And people picked up on that message. They started to take me for granted.

But then, a friend gave me some advice. She told me it was okay to say no. That my time was just as valuable as anyone else’s and it was okay to protect it.

So I started to pull back. I began saying no to requests that would stretch me too thin or that weren’t a priority for me. And guess what? People started to treat me differently. They began to understand that my time and my help were valuable, not something they could take for granted.

It wasn’t easy at first, but learning to say no was one of the best things I ever did for myself. It taught me to value my own time and it taught others to respect it too.

3) Not valuing your own worth

Did you know that people who have a strong sense of self-worth are less likely to be taken for granted? It’s true.

When you value yourself, you set the tone for how others should value you. You become less likely to tolerate behaviors that disrespect or belittle you.

But if you don’t value yourself, if you don’t believe in your own worth, you’re more likely to accept poor treatment from others.

So take some time to reflect on your worth. Recognize the unique skills, traits, and perspectives that you bring to the table. Start treating yourself with the respect and dignity that you deserve.

When you start valuing yourself, others will follow suit. They will see the worth in you that you see in yourself, and they’ll be less likely to take you for granted.

4) Not speaking up

Silence, they say, is golden. But when it comes to being taken for granted, silence might be more like lead.

If you don’t speak up when you feel undervalued or taken advantage of, people may assume that you’re okay with it. And that’s a green light for them to continue their behavior.

Speaking up doesn’t mean you have to start a confrontation or create a scene. It can be as simple as saying, “I feel like my efforts aren’t being appreciated” or “I need some time for myself today.”

Remember, communication is key in any relationship, whether it’s personal or professional. By expressing your feelings and setting your boundaries, you’re reinforcing your worth and teaching others how to treat you rightly.

5) Neglecting self-care

This one’s a bit of a heartbreaker because so many of us do it. We pour all our energy into taking care of others, leaving little to no time for ourselves.

But here’s the sad truth: neglecting our own needs and well-being can lead others to take us for granted. When we don’t prioritize self-care, we’re essentially saying that everyone else’s needs are more important than ours.

Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s necessary. It’s about respecting and nurturing yourself, about understanding that you can’t pour from an empty cup.

When we start taking care of ourselves, it sends a message that we value our own health and happiness. And when we value ourselves, others are more likely to value us too.

So please, make time for yourself. Prioritize your own well-being. You’re worth it, and you deserve to be treated with respect and appreciation.

6) Ignoring my intuition

There was a time when I would brush off that little voice inside me, the one that would quietly whisper “something’s not right here”. Instead of trusting my gut, I would convince myself that I was just being overly sensitive or paranoid.

But over time, I realized that my intuition was often correct. When I felt like I was being taken for granted, it usually turned out to be true.

Ignoring your intuition can lead you to tolerate situations and behaviors that are detrimental to your well-being.

So now, I listen. When that little voice tells me something is off, I pay attention. I’ve learned to trust myself and my feelings. And in doing so, I’ve learned to stand up for myself more and insist on the respect and appreciation I deserve.

Trust your intuition. It’s there for a reason. It’s your internal compass guiding you towards what’s best for you. Don’t ignore it.

7) Avoiding confrontation

It’s natural to want to avoid conflict. After all, who likes uncomfortable situations? But sometimes, avoiding confrontation can lead to being taken for granted.

When you let things slide without addressing them, people may assume that you’re okay with their behavior, even if it’s far from the truth.

Standing up for yourself doesn’t mean you have to be aggressive or rude. It just means expressing your feelings honestly and respectfully.

You have the right to be treated with respect and dignity. So don’t shy away from confrontations when necessary. It can be a powerful way to remind others not to take you for granted.

8) Failing to set boundaries

This is perhaps the most critical habit to break if you don’t want to be taken for granted. Without clear boundaries, people may not know where the line is until they’ve crossed it.

Boundaries are a way of communicating what you will and won’t accept. They’re about respecting your own needs and wants.

Setting boundaries can feel uncomfortable, especially if you’re not used to it. But it’s an essential part of maintaining healthy relationships and ensuring that you’re treated with the respect you deserve.

So, start setting boundaries. It’s not just about saying no, but also about saying yes to your own self-worth. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference it can make.

Final reflection: It’s about self-respect

The journey to not being taken for granted starts and ends with self-respect.

It’s easy to point fingers and blame others for taking us for granted. But the truth is, it’s often our actions, or lack thereof, that signal to others how they can treat us.

Remember, you teach people how to treat you. If you don’t respect yourself enough to set boundaries, to voice your concerns, and to prioritize your own needs, why should anyone else?

It might take time and courage to break these habits. But every step you take towards self-respect is a step away from being taken for granted.

So take those steps. Say goodbye to the habits that aren’t serving you well. You’re worth it. And it’s high time people recognized that too.

In the words of late American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou, “Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.” Remember this as you navigate your path towards demanding the respect you rightfully deserve.