How To Say No
- Saying NO can be a form of self care and IS NOT being selfish. When we say NO we are honoring existing obligations.
- Saying NO can allow you to try new things. Always agreeing to take part in the same events or activities does not expand your skills set or network.
- Saying NO can open the door for others to step up. There have been a few times in my life when others have said no to tasks that have allowed me to take the lead in the situation. In reverse, I have said no to opportunities which have allowed others to take on new responsibilities.
- Saying NO can ease stress in your life. Weigh the stress that saying yes will place on your life. Take time to consider what you will need to change in order to make time for the new task and responsibility? Will the outcome be worth the stress it will place upon your life? Be cautious in regards to eliminating self care time in order to add more to your schedule. Neglecting yourself will only be harmful in the end.
How To Say No
- Be Firm and Say NO. Use the word NO. Don’t be afraid to say it. No is a complete sentence.
- If you feel and explanation is needed, be brief. “That isn’t going to work with my schedule.” “That isn’t going to work for me.” You do not need to provide any further explanation.
- Be Honest. Don’t create an excuse that isn’t real. This will often only backfire and you may be caught which creates even more stress.
- Be Respectful. There will always be good causes and organizations that you want to support. However, their needs may not fit into your schedule. Compliment the work that is going on and share how much you respect them. You may even want to state “I can’t do this ______ but perhaps I could do __________.”
- Be Ready to Repeat. You will likely run into someone who continues to push, hoping they will find you in a weak moment where you change your mind. While my Mom was receiving treatment, I was asked to accept a board position 3 different times (by three different individuals). By the third ask, I found myself looking at my life and wondering if I could make it happen. Fortunately, I was able to stand strong and say No once again.
Do you find it difficult to say No? I challenge you this week to think before saying yes.
This is a great post! Not only do I always want to say yes, I am the first to volunteer for things that I really should not do, in the interest of self care.
I like the idea of thinking what we are NOT doing in order to agree to do something else. We only have so much time and even though we want to do everything, we simply can not. Honor what you want to do, take care of you and then see what you have time and desire for. It’s so great to have you stop by.
Great post! Isn’t it amazing how we’ve trained ourselves to go go go so much that we actually have to learn to say no? Or feel guilty saying no? This is a great post, thanks for sharing!
You are so correct. I believe that we go at such a pace that we often forget we have the option of saying No. When we do say No, it feels awkward and odd. Thanks for stopping by!
This is so good! One of my favorite quotes is say no to good things and say yes to better things 🙂 I get stressed easily and have something every night after work, so I make sure to say no to give myself a break and rest too 🙂
I like the idea of thinking what we are NOT doing in order to agree to do something else. We only have so much time and even though we want to do everything, we simply can not. Honor what you want to do, take care of you and then see what you have time and desire for. It’s so great to have you stop by.