Say no, to say yes to less stress

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Is your plate piled too high with deadlines and obligations? Are you trying to cram too many activities into too little time? If so, you may find stress relief by learning how to say no to others and yes to yourself. Don't make up reasons to get out of an obligation. The truth is always the best way to turn down a friend, family member or co-worker. But let them down gently. Compliment the person's or group's effort while saying that you're unable to commit at this time. It will soften the blow and keep you in good graces.

July 28, 2021 See more In-depth

See also

  1. 5 ways to bring play back into your life
  2. A Very Happy Brain
  3. Adapt to put stress in its place
  4. Anger management: Your questions answered
  5. Are your holidays a dietary free-for-all?
  6. Balancing work and life responsibilities
  7. Being assertive
  8. Bridge pose
  9. Can yoga help me keep caregiver stress in check?
  10. Caregiver stress
  11. Cat/cow pose
  12. Chase away the winter blues
  13. Child's pose
  14. Cobra
  15. Control email to regain control of your life
  16. Coping with excess information
  17. Coping with job stress
  18. COVID-19 and your mental health
  19. Denial
  20. Does stress make rheumatoid arthritis worse?
  21. Downward-facing dog
  22. Dreading a family holiday gathering?
  23. Ease stress to reduce eczema symptoms
  24. Ease stress to reduce your psoriasis flares
  25. Feeling overwhelmed? Take a break
  26. Forgiveness
  27. Great expectations: How to keep them from creating unhappiness
  28. Have you had a good laugh today?
  29. Holidays don't have to break the bank
  30. How decluttering your space could make you healthier and happier
  31. How to focus on the present for long-term progress
  32. Job burnout
  33. Job satisfaction
  34. Laugh more, stress less
  35. Learn to reduce stress through mindful living
  36. Learn to say no and enjoy the holidays
  37. Manage stress through problem-solving
  38. Manage stress to improve psoriatic arthritis symptoms
  39. Mountain pose
  40. Need better work-life balance?
  41. New School Anxiety
  42. Perfect holiday? Forget about it!
  43. Pet therapy
  44. Positive thinking
  45. Resilience
  46. Seated spinal twist
  47. Setbacks and criticism — Don't let them derail you
  48. Slide show: Yoga poses
  49. Social support: Tap this tool to beat stress
  50. Standing forward bend
  51. Stress and high blood pressure
  52. Stress and technology
  53. Holiday stress
  54. Prevent stress setbacks
  55. Stress relief from laughter
  56. Stress relievers
  57. Stressed out? Skip the late show
  58. Stressed? Set yourself up for success
  59. Support groups
  60. The power of positive thinking
  61. Tired of feeling hassled? Try these tips
  62. Use the 80/20 rule to manage time and reduce stress
  63. Warrior 1
  64. What is hot yoga?
  65. What is reflexology?
  66. Work-life balance