Make peace: learning the power of saying no

Expectations are high during the holiday season.

Parties for work and fun, get-togethers with friends, kids’ pageants, family obligations and events all conspire to take our time. Plus there are all the related activities—gift buying, cookie making, concert going, meal preparing and more! It’s a wonder anyone makes it through the holiday season intact. For those who tend to become tired and depleted, holiday cheer can quickly become holiday fear.

The secret to saving yourself and your holiday sanity? Learn to say no.

Make yourself a priority

We all have groups we belong to—friends, family, work colleagues, workout buddies and so on. These may all be important to you in different ways. You make time for them, you may make sacrifices for them and you probably have put them first from time to time. While you do this willingly, each time you put someone or something first, you’re bumping yourself down the list. The more you repeat these behaviors, the lower you drop on your list of priorities.