I always try to be accommodating and helpful and kind, but sometimes you just have to draw the line.
Sometimes the plate just gets a bit too full and you can't keep piling it up.
Especially when you're pregnant and your expanding belly makes doing everything take just a bit longer than it used to (like bending down...yeah I used to do that easily...now, not so much). I have made a proclamation to all my kiddos that they must learn to tie their own shoes because I simply cannot bend down and my tummy will only get bigger.
Anyway, back to saying no.
Today I said no and it felt good.
It's not really a big deal, but normally I would have said yes and then felt stressed over having just one more thing on my plate, so this time, I just said nuh-uh.
Very occasionally, I am asked by the International Reading Association to review a potential book manuscript. I think I have only ever done two, but I just got an email last night asking me to do another. They are changing their review process and they needed someone to review a manuscript by December 16th.
That is just around the corner (crazy, right? Thursday is DECEMBER 1st!)
My "deliverables" for this term are due to my advisers on Monday, so I have less than a week to get my paper in shape, which includes taking out a lot of what I already wrote and adding more that has yet to be written.
::sigh::
Mr. Sneaker will be away this weekend, so I know it will get done, but at the same time it's daunting and I know that once I press send on the email with my paper attached, I am going to need a little break from academia and reading research. I don't like to pass on opportunities to review books because they are always interesting and I think it's great experience, but I just don't see it happening in the next few weeks as my mind wanders more and more towards being with my family in CT and seeing my parents, brother, sister-in-law and nieces for the first time in a year and a half.
I don't usually say no to things and usually have a bring it on, I can handle it kind of attitude, but I think I am really embracing this whole I can't do everything and pregnancy is really slowing me down attitude. Some things just have to wait. My sanity, health, and leisure time reign supreme right now.
What did you say no to that made you feel really good?
4 Raised Hands:
How do you get asked to review a manuscript? That sounds like my cup of tea! :)
I'm with you! My friend told me just last weekend that I'm doing better setting boundaries. I have the same can-do attitude, and sometimes it lands me in the same place: "Oh why!! did I say I'd do that?" Not so much lately, though. Congratulations on setting boundaries by saying "No!" :) I'm still learning to do that at my age... :D (My son is 22!) Good for you that you're starting so much earlier than I did! ;)
Melly<><
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Wow I didn't realize you hadn't seen your parents in year and a half! I couldn't do that! I don't blame you at all for thinking more about that than anything else.
Saying no is something that I am constantly working on every single day. My latest thing is parents e-mailing me questions that were clearly already answered and they just don't read it. I used to write back nice responses but now I'll answer with a few words and say "please reference ___" I get that they are busy but I am busy too!
Also- I've heard of a lot of people get better with this during pregnancy, just don't forget to carry it into motherhood!
I finally learned to say "no" after I took a stress leave almost two years ago. You CAN'T do everything and you quickly become known as "the person to ask because they never say no"...after changing schools and setting that boundary first thing, I am a million times happier. Still have too much on my plate but it isn't nearly as daunting as it used to be! :)
I think reviewing a manuscript would be super awesome!
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