Stress Buster: Just Say, “No”
Author: Judy Bushnell
No one needs to tell you that the life of a BCIT student is demanding. One minute, you’re trying to find your first class, and before you know it, your to-do list is packed. There just aren’t enough hours in the day to go to class, study, walk the dog, shop for groceries, and get a good night’s sleep, let alone volunteer to make your famous chocolate chip cookies for the bake sale tomorrow or fix your brother’s computer. How can you stay on top of the things that really count?
One way to budget your time and energy wisely is to stop saying yes to requests without thinking about the toll it will take on you - not to mention your grades.
Why is this important?
“If you cannot say no, you are not in charge of your life.”
– Randy Paterson, author of The Assertiveness Workbook .
Think it over.
Promise yourself that you will not agree to any new requests until you’ve given yourself at least 24 hours to think it over.
“Help you move this weekend? I’ll check my schedule and let you know tomorrow.”
Now you’ve got time to decide if you really want to say yes…
If you want to say yes, but can’t find the time without sacrificing something important, say no - without apology - and ask if you can take a rain check.
For more stress management tips, check out bcit.ca/counselling or make an appointment with a counsellor.
To evaluate your current stress level, take the stress test on the Canadian Mental Health Association website.