Wellness Corner 34: Saying “No”

Hey Falcons,

Two of the most powerful words in the English language are yes and no. Especially as ambitious students at Kinkaid, we tend to say “yes” to every opportunity that comes our way. It’s as if we say “no” to even the most trivial thing; there’s a chance we can close the door on a mind-blowing opportunity. We fear saying “no” to protect our relationships and in part, our reputations.

However, when you say “yes” to everything, you’re also saying “yes” to stress. “Yes” can make us prioritize tasks that are irrelevant to us; this can harm our performance and ruin relationships in the end. 

Saying no allows you to establish healthy boundaries by clearly setting expectations — “I’m not going to overload my plate, nor am I going to refuse everything.” It also increases your self-esteem, since you are less likely to feel used and even burnt out. 

That doesn’t mean you just don’t do homework or study for weeks on end. That’s valuable, high priority work.  Every time we decide to say “no” to something unimportant (like, for example, writing a non-time-sensitive article for The Falcon in a week with several major assessments) we say “yes” to something important like our family, growth, mental peace, & relationships.

Let’s try saying “no” to prioritize our wellbeing. It’s not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength. 

Stay well,
Eshaan