No.
It’s one of the shortest words in the English dictionary, but it’s the hardest to utilize.
“No, I will not eat the 490-calorie Pop-Tarts.”
“No, I cannot volunteer to host the Christmas gathering this year.”
*receives work text at 10 PM* “No, I cannot finalize that project tonight, but I will tackle it first thing in the morning.”
Anytime we say “yes” to something, we say “no” to another item. For example, “Yes, I’ll take the Pop-Tarts. No, those pants don’t fit anymore.”
Or, “Yes, I’ll get on that email right away. No. I’m sorry, (insert family member name here). I cannot spend time with you right now. I’ve got to focus on this last project of the day.”
We attain a small moment of satisfaction when we walk over our boundaries. The satisfaction could be the delight of a strawberry Pop-Tarts or the joy of knowing we helped another person. The jubilee is hard to beat because it might pay off with public adoration for our devotion to the work. But is it sustainable?
Your boundless availability could influence future annual reviews or lead to more last-minute requests because you never say “no.”
It’s good to be known as a hard worker, but it will pay off to be a balanced human. Take time to decide on the boundaries necessary to accomplish your work and fulfill your other responsibilities to yourself, your family, and your goals. Make time and space for the things that matter most.
I don’t want to build a prominent career and fail to invest in these three little humans. I can do both, but it will take healthy boundaries and healthy dietary decisions if I want to stick around for a long time. 😅
