January 2020 - New Year, New NO

It is SO difficult to say no.

It is especially hard for educators because we are the caretakers, the givers, and the ones everyone knows they can count on.

You've heard all the reasons why you should say no to commitments that take your precious time but don't fill your bucket.

Putting aside the WHY, here's a suggestion about the HOW: Start small.

Begin by saying no to something tiny, like unsubscribing from an email list (but not mine!).

Work your way up to something a little bigger, like declining invitations to events you're not excited about.

As you begin to feel more comfortable with saying no, then take on the bigger things, like establishing a much-needed boundary with someone.