Today I want to share one of my best secrets for how I have cultivated a career I love without being frazzled by overbusyness:
Choosing when to say yes and when to say no.
If, like me, you’re a curious, life-long learner who cares too much what others think and hates letting people down, you probably say YES way too much. While this may create opportunity, it is also a recipe for stress and burnout.
I use the following guidelines to decide when to say yes and when to kindly decline:
Choose YES only when:
- LEARN: You will gain critical knowledge, skills, or experience
- CONNECT: You will network and build camaraderie and community
- GROW: You will share yourself and your mission with others
- IGNITE: It lights you up!
Choose NO when:
- OBLIGATION: You’re saying yes to avoid guilt
- IMPRESSION: You’re saying yes to avoid judgment or letting others down
- OTHER: Saying yes benefits someone else’s career but not your own
- IMPOSTER: Saying yes is way to try to outrun imposter syndrome (e.g., “If I do this one additional thing, I’ll finally feel legitimate.”)
Of course, other factors like time commitment and financial compensation will likely play a role for you too. Know your worth! It’s ok to be choosy about how much you give of yourself and your time for free.
Clinician’s Corner
If you are a clinician who wants to learn ACT, I have an on-demand CE course (6 hours) called “Breakthrough ACT Techniques & Experiential Exercises: A Clinical Roadmap to Help Clients Overcome Psychological Distress.” Click here for more information or to access the course.
My feel-goodie of the month
After 15 years watching me reheat my coffee in the microwave, my sweet husband bought me an Ember Mug that keeps my coffee piping hot from the first sip to the very last. Best. Present. Ever. |