One of the biggest causes of overwhelm is having too much to do. Now I know that’s not a brilliant revelation, but did you know you have the power reduce your overwhelm with just one little sentence? Indeed, you do. That sentence is NO. It’s short, simple and to the point.
But just because something is simple doesn’t mean it’s easy to implement.
So the big question then is why is it so challenging to say no? Most likely because we are not practiced at it – yes, is far too often our default answer. It’s especially true for women. Most of us are hard wired to please others – we hate to disappoint (how lucky are we!?). But it isn’t wise, and it’s definitely not healthy, to say yes to every request. Saying yes when you want to say no will send you to the land of resentment on the express train.
So, what can we do to regain some balance. We can learn how to say no graciously. And we can let go of the associated guilt. FYI – there is no reason to feel guilty for not being able to accommodate every ask – when you protect your time and resources, you are actually modeling behavior that will empower others to the same. So really, you are being rather noble.
Here are four tips to help you learn how to say no effectively – gracefully, graciously and without guilt!
