Yes. No. I mean – maybe? Well, okay. Have you ever wanted to be able to say "no" without feeling guilty? Without feeling you're letting someone down? Many of us struggle with disappointing anyone with a 'no.' At the same time, those two letters, n-o, can be freeing and allow you to prioritize the needs of your family.

If you’re a caregiver, the ability to say no is a powerful skill that can ultimately give you the gifts of time and energy to dedicate to your health as well as your child's. By trading off doing something you truly don’t have the time to do, you can give yourself more breathing room to stay on top of extra-curricular activities AND general self-care. It becomes easier to say “no” with practice.

There are a variety of ways to say no and set boundaries with friends and family with no hard feelings. How do you say “no” to others? Are you direct? Do you provide rain checks?

Here are some conversations about this topic from the community:

• “When you feel your physical and mental health declining, some things have got to wait.”
• “I did several little things last week to put myself first.”
• “I don't show up to any family functions.”

When has saying no been a form of self-care for you?
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