One of the biggest reasons people don’t have the happy social life they crave is they say yes way too much. They say yes to too many things and have no time or energy to say yes to the things that mean the most.
There are a lot of reasons why people say yes…
- Sense of obligation
- Kind temperament
- Helpful mindset
- AND Inability to say NO
Saying yes is often a very good thing. Being helpful, kind, and dependable all indicate you’re an awesome person, but it also indicates you’re really busy. If you feel as though you can’t do the things you want to do because you’re busy doing the things you have to do…or don’t want to do, it’s time to learn to say no for your own good.
Saying no to many of the things you are asked to do can boost your social life. Being more selective with how you spend your time can free up time for things you really want to do. Here’s what saying no can do for you:
Saying no can help you have more fun – Saying no to things that aren’t what you want to do or drain your energy will revive you. It can help you have more fun because you won’t be spread too thin.
Saying no can make you feel confident – A lot of people don’t say no because they are afraid of what the consequences are. After a few times of setting a healthy boundary you’ll see saying no isn’t as scary as you may have thought. Once you get confident setting boundaries and saying no, you can have more fun when you say yes.
Saying no can give you more time – There are few people who can control our time. Sometimes our employer and our family are at the top of the list. Even then, they can’t account for all of your time. Saying no to the people who don’t control your time can free time up for doing fun things you really want to do. Remind yourself that it’s ok to tell people you don’t work for or aren’t related to that you need to decline their ask.
Of the many ways you can create a happy social life, one of the best is saying NO. No to the things that aren’t required of you and the things that don’t make you happy. Learning to set limits and say no can help you create the social life you’ve always wanted.
