This is something that I’ve personally struggled with over the years and have noticed that by saying yes to every opportunity that came my way, I began to feel overwhelmed and tired overtime.
Saying “no” is an important part of our self-care routine. Sometimes all we want to do is say yes to everything to avoid disappointing others. We might feel guilty saying no and believe that we’re hurting others by doing so.
Saying yes on an ongoing basis can have a negative impact on our own self-care and eventually lead to us being dragged in all directions and burning out.
Saying “No” in a confident manner is a form of assertive communication. Check out this link for 20 interesting ways to practice saying “no”.
And remember, if you can’t look after your own self-care needs, you’ll struggle to look after others.
Michelle is a Mental Health Occupational Therapist who supports people to develop their assertive communication skills through practical role plays and goal setting. Michelle can explore your self-care needs and help you to develop a healthy routine that will support you to be your best self.