Are you familiar with "No"vember?
This is the opportunity to challenge yourself to say "no" more often to things that don't align with your values and priorities. A time to support your long and short term goals as well as your mental health.
Set healthy boundaries.
Avoid overcommitting.
Be present and intentional.
Let go of distractions.
I feel a physical difference in my Being when I kindly decline committing to something that doesn't "feel" good to me.
I remember a younger me who didn't know this was an option. She believed she had to say "yes" to everything that was asked of her. If she didn't, others might be disappointed with her - even God.
I've learned that kindly, yet firmly, saying "No" isn't as hard as I thought it was. It doesn't make me a bad person and it doesn't mean that I don't care about others. It doesn't even mean I've disappointed God. He has given us agency, afterall. And when I trust that He trusts me, I choose well.
I learned that when I said "yes" because I "should", I felt grumpy and mean and didn't show up committed to the thing I'd committed to. I didn't like being that person.
The hardest part of "No"vember is saying "No" to things I enjoy, but tend to overindulge in like, late night snacks, binge watching Dancing With The Stars, and home improvement projects. I say "yes" to them AND I limit them (as in "No More") - because the overindulgent versions don't serve me well.
Saying "No" is an act of self-care and gives you more control over your life. Distractions are reduced and you can give more attention and energy to what truly matters to you. This naturally reduces stress, anxiety and overwhelm.
I bet you're wondering what to do if you run out of things to say "No" to, and the "Yes" things start piling up?
I have a few recommendations:
Stay Self-Connected - Regularly check in with yourself and relax areas that are tense, ask yourself what you need and honor that need.
Identify Needed Support - Ask for help, simplify, let go of perfectionism, focus on the essential.
Be Solution-Minded - Focus on helping things go right instead of what's going wrong. Give yourself credit for successes and mistakes that taught you something valuable.
Identify the End Goal and Plan Backwards - Begin by clearly identifying your desired outcome. Then, work backward from the deadline (whether real or self-imposed) of your final task. Break the project down into manageable steps, scheduling each one in reverse order, from the deadline to today. This approach ensures you're allocating enough time for each step while keeping your focus on the end result.
I hope you'll give "No"vember a try! It's a simple but powerful way to stop yourself from taking on too much.
What will you say "No" to?
Xo,
Meredith
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