Whether you are a people pleaser, want to impress a new boss, or just want to reach a goal, we all hit a point in our lives when we realize we cannot put anything else on our plate.
Spreading yourself too thin is a common problem of most determined, goal-oriented millennial women. However, when we decide taking on another responsibility is simply not possible, saying no can be daunting and stressful. In situations like this it is important to realize that saying no is just as important to success as saying yes is.
Saying no allows you more time to do well in the things you say yes to.
When you close a door to an opportunity it might be a little upsetting to know that you may not get that opportunity again. But, by saying no, you have ensured that you have enough time to give your attention to the responsibilities you already have in your life. Doing an excellent job in a few tasks is better than doing mediocre in a lot of tasks as you build a reputation of producing solid work.
Recognize that saying no can be a way of respecting yourself.
Trying to be helpful is great. However, sometimes you need to set boundaries. People may want to take advantage of your kindness.
So, should you say no? When given an option to take on another project at work or volunteer at the local animal shelter, consider your priorities. How will this decision affect you or the things that matter to you? Say no if the task negativity affects you professionally or personally. Negative effects may include taking up time you need for an important presentation or missing your child’s graduation. Know what is best for you.
If you are still on the fence about accepting a task after looking at your priorities, ask yourself some more questions. If you say yes, what will happen? What is the worse thing that can happen if you say no? Take the good and bad consequences into consideration.
With that being said, knowing you should say no is half the battle. The other half is actually saying no to your friends, your coworkers, or even your boss. You can make the process of saying no smooth by following some simple guidelines:
