• Start Here
  • Work With Me
  • Parenting
  • Kids Activities
  • Working Moms
  • Productivity Tips
  • Number of items in cart: 0

    • Your cart is empty.
    • Total: $0.00
    • Checkout

Fab Working Mom Life

A Working Mom Blog: Let's thrive as working moms.

  • Blog
  • Motherhood
    • Breastfeeding
    • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Kids Activities
    • Working Mom
  • Lifestyle
    • Finances
    • Food
    • Health
    • Home Life
    • Military
    • Organize
  • Resources
    • Blogging Resources
    • Working Mom Life Resources
  • About
    • About Julie
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Subscribe
  • Work With Me
    • Advertise Here or Hire Me
    • Guest Post Here
    • Link and Image Policy
    • As Seen On
  • Freebies
    • Affirmations for Working Moms
    • Monthly Budget
    • Nanny Interview Questions Checklist
    • Start a Blog? email course
    • Printables
  • Shop
    • Budget Workbook Planner
    • Nanny Contract Template
    • My Zazzle Store
    • My Amazon Store

Note: posts contain affiliate links, earning me a commission. By using this site, you agree to our use of browser cookies. Read our disclosure and privacy policies for more details.

Say No Like a Pro: Why Learning to say No is a powerful tool for moms

October 11, 2018 by Julie 3 Comments

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe and join the tribe. Thanks for visiting!

We live in a “yes” culture, where we are constantly expected to take on more responsibilities, more work, and continue to attempt to climb to the top. But with limited resources (time, energy, mental capacity for more load), saying yes to everything is not an option. So we need to learn to say no. 

But are you used to saying no? Let’s focus on learning to say no! Read on for tips on how to say no at work and at home as well as how to say no to family and friends.

Working Moms Should Learn to Say No Like a Pro with These Tips

Why Learning to say No is a powerful tool for moms | Why Working Moms should Learn to say No | Fab Working Mom Life #motherhood #workingmom #sayingno

 

You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically, to say “no” to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger “yes” burning inside. The enemy of the “best” is often the “good.”
– Stephen Covey

Why we have a hard time Saying No

There are quite a few reasons why we always want to say yes. It’s something we’re conditioned to do, right? To be responsible, helpful, useful people at work and at home, we do what we are told or asked to do. 


If you’re thinking “when I say no I feel guilty” then you’re not alone! But what other reasons keep us from saying no?

    • Guilt – we actually feel bad for not wanting to/being able to/being willing to help.
    • Rejection – if we stop saying yes, so will others to us, right? Maybe. Maybe not.
    • Confrontation – we really don’t want our boss or significant other to get pissed at us for not wanting to do something.
    • Opportunity loss – if we say no, we don’t get to do that thing, and whatever the next thing that leads to. Could it cost us? FOMO and all that.
    • Genuinely want to help – I mean, we’re good people. We really do want to help and if someone asks for our support, it kind of makes us feel good and wanted, right?

These are all valid reasons for our “yes culture” but that doesn’t mean it has to be this way 100% of the time. This is why learning to say no is so vital for our to-do lists and mental load!

Recommended Post:  How to find Childcare: Our Best Daycare and Nanny Tips for Working Moms

Why is it important to learn how to say no in a yes culture?

Here's why it's super important for working moms to learn to say no in this overworked over-scheduled yes culture. | Fab Working Mom Life #workingmom #workingmomlife

how to say no like a pro 1

Importance of learning to Say No and Reasons for Saying No

Here are a bunch of reasons for you to learn how to say no without feeling guilty!

Saying no puts you in control of your career.

While saying no to your boss or co-workers seems scary and wrong, it can actually help show your commitment to the quality of your work. By saying no to some things, and expressing that you don’t want to sacrifice quality and optimal performance on your other projects, you’re showing that you can accurately maintain your workload and you are dedicated to producing good results.

Saying “no” shows you are not afraid to make decisions that are better for your clients and therefore your job. It also shows you are not a pushover who just wants to please everyone even when it isn’t possible.

Also, saying no helps us build the courage to ask for what we do want. When turning down something that isn’t a good fit, we can then clarify what project would be more exciting and more in line with our career goals.

If you're thinking when I say no I feel guilty then you're not alone! But what other reasons keep us from saying no? Let's learn tips on how to say no without feeling guilty. Read on to learn how to say no at work and at home as well as how to say no to family and friends.

Saying no demonstrates that you value yourself.

Saying no is a way of respecting and valuing your time and space. We can’t be everything and everywhere at the same time, so we need to carefully select where we put our efforts. Or we risk being stretched too thin.

When your gut tells you something isn’t right for your energy or time, respect your energy. What better way to practice mindfulness as a busy mom?

You can’t please everyone.

When we allow ourselves to become stretched too thin, we’re no good to anyone. We can’t help ourselves, our loved ones, or perform well at work. Valuing our energy and time should be a high priority! we’re not responsible for other people’s reactions of us and we’re truly responsible for only a few people’s happiness.

Saying no can sometimes make us feel left out, that is true. But remember we need to be selective with how we fill our schedule or we may end up not enjoying anything and being in a lousy mood during events that are important to us. Yes, you can learn how to say no at work without feeling guilty!

Recommended Post:  Protect your Family During this Pandemic Life

why do we say yes when we want to say no

Learn how to say no without feeling guilty as a busy working mom.

 

Saying “no” gracefully

When people expect things from us, we always want to please. But we’ve discussed that it isn’t possible to do all the things and so we need to learn to gracefully say no to some things and some people. We want to learn how to say no without hurting someone’s feelings.

Here are some simple examples of a gentle and respectful way of saying no:

  • I have other priorities currently and cannot commit to this project. Why don’t you ask X?
  • Let me think about it first and get back to you.
  • I’m in the middle of something right now, let’s chat at X time instead.
  • I bet X would love to help you with this, but I’m not the right person for the task.
  • I’m swamped right now with this project, but I can help you next week, would that work?
  • I’m already committed to X, it’s a shame I can’t help with Y right now.
  • I’d love to help with X, but that means I won’t be able to get Y done by the deadline. Which would you like me to prioritize?
  • That’s so sweet of you to ask, but we already have plans that day.
  • Unfortunately, my availability is limited and I will not be able to participate in X. Thank you so much for thinking of me.
Why Learning to say No is a powerful tool for moms - read ideas for how to say no gracefully | Why Working Moms should Learn to say No | Fab Working Mom Life #motherhood #workingmom #sayingno

9 tactful ways to say no
 

“No” might not be a word you are used to saying often, but if you find yourself stretched far beyond what you can handle, or even reaching that limit, then saying no is a must. Next time you feel a “yes” coming on when your whole heart is screaming “no,” honor that and set your limits.

By leaving more space for yourself to focus on what you have already said “yes” to, you will be able to bring your best.

Learning to say no at work and how to say no to family is a huge help for us moms!

How to say no book suggestions:

 


 

This post is part of the 31 Tips for Working Moms series. See the rest of the posts here:

 

Categories: Parenting, TopPosts, Working Mom Tags: organized working mom schedule, productivity tips, Time saving tips for working moms, working mom organization tips

the PAST
the FUTURE

Join the Working Mom Tribe

Join the Working Mom Tribe and get support and tools to help you thrive! Tribe members get access to my library of resources and printables.

Thank you for joining the tribe! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit

Comments

  1. Sarah says

    October 12, 2018 at 9:25 pm

    I can have a hard time saying no the reason depends on the person.

    Reply
  2. Inez says

    October 12, 2018 at 11:13 am

    This is a great post! I totally agree that saying no shows others that you value yourself. I love the example ways to say no. 🙂

    Reply
    • Julie says

      October 12, 2018 at 11:18 am

      Thanks Inez! I want to find even more examples to link to.

      Reply

Comments are held for moderation. Links are no follow.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments are held for moderation.

About Julie

Julie of Fab Working Mom Life Welcome! My name is Julie :) I am a Texan living in Hawaii (military life). I'm a mom, a blogger, and also work full-time in environmental compliance. I write about being a working mom to help myself and other working moms in our journey to find a balance between our family, responsibilities, and hobbies. I do this because we moms need a support network to thrive both at home and at work.

Follow us

  • email
  • instagram
  • pinterest
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • youtube
  • bloglovin

Note: posts contain affiliate links, earning me a small commission at no additional charge to you. This site uses browser cookies to store information on your computer: some are essential to make this site work, others improve your user experience, and track behavior and user patterns (for advertising purposes). By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Read our disclosure and privacy policies for more details.

Join the Tribe!

Grab these Affirmations for Working Moms when you Join the Working Mom Tribe!

Join the Working Mom Tribe

Join the Working Mom Tribe and get support and tools to help you thrive! Tribe members get access to my library of resources and printables.

Thank you for joining the tribe! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit

Pin with me!


Follow my Pinterest blog board

Most Popular

If you're searching for quick and easy toddler recipes and toddler meals for picky eaters you've got to check out this post! This roundup contains healthy toddler meal ideas as well as finger foods for toddlers and 1 year old meal ideas. Keep reading for your toddler meal plan for quick dinner ideas for toddlers! | Fab Working Mom Life #toddler #dinner #feedinglittles #feedingtoddlers #familydinner #workingmom #workingmomlife #parenting

Toddler meals for Picky Eaters – 30+ quick and easy toddler recipes 

Tips to Help your Toddler Develop Language Skills

Lactation Oatmeal Recipe

Lactation Oatmeal Recipe: How to make Overnight Oatmeal with Lactation Goodness

Featured Posts

  • Have a Fabulous Active Beach Day at Kailua Beach
  • 6 Tasks to Delegate as a new Mommy
  • Learning To Write for Preschoolers: 6 brilliant tips to make it more appealing
  • Best Baby Swing Tips for New Moms
  • Highchairs For Babies: Eight Steps To Choosing The Right High Chair
Christmas gifts guide

Fab Working Mom Life Hot Topics

productivity tips for working moms
5-things-you-need-to-know-to-breastfeed-baby-sliderthings-to-do-to-prepare-for-baby-for-first-time-moms-slider

Link to Fab Working Mom Life

Membership


Memberships page.

Join the Working Mom Tribe

Join the Working Mom Tribe and get support and tools to help you thrive! Tribe members get access to my library of resources and printables.

Thank you for joining the tribe! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit
  • Start Here
  • Work With Me
  • Guest Post Here
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Link and Image Policy

Note: Posts contain affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase a product, I will receive a small commission for the sale at no additional cost to you. Fab Working Mom Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Protected by Copyscape DMCA.com Protection Status

Copyright © 2021 · Fab Working Mom Life· Hello You Designs

Copyright © 2021 · Sweets Blog on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT