A few weeks ago we talked about the importance of saying yes more often – now let’s look at what saying no can do for us. This isn’t about turning down great opportunities or limiting ourselves. It’s about respecting our own needs and choosing to prioritize ourselves. Saying no to one thing means you’re saying yes to something else – something that you’re really choosing to do.
For example, you might be exhausted after a long week at work and have a busy weekend ahead. You’ve planned a relaxing evening and an early night, and you’ve been looking forward to it all week. Your friend asks you to babysit for her at the last minute. You would usually put aside your needs and say yes. But you babysat last weekend, too, and you were too tired to enjoy the next day. Saying no is okay – remember, your needs matter, too.
Why saying no is important
People often agree to things they don’t want to do out of guilt, or because they want to be seen as ‘nice’, or they don’t want to disappoint or hurt someone. But if you’re constantly saying yes when you really want to say no, you’ll end up:
- Angry and resentful
- Exhausted and even unwell
- Missing out on the things you want to do
- Not being true to yourself
Saying no more doesn’t mean being selfish and riding roughshod over the needs of others. But as airline cabin crew always say: ‘Put on your own oxygen mask before helping others’. It might take a little practice, but it’s worth considering your own needs and desires before automatically saying yes to everything.