The Art of Saying 'No': Setting Boundaries for Better Well-being
- BeWellAdmin
- Jun 23, 2025
- 2 min read
Let’s be honest – it feels good to feel like you can do it all. Being known as the always available and ever reliable friend, colleague, or employee can be a great feeling! But sometimes, it comes at a cost.
In my personal life and maybe even your own, this chronic need to people please has led to burnout, and has landed me in less than favourable situations, putting the needs of others before my own.
Before we explore some strategies on how to say ‘no,’ there are a few things you should try to remember:
Setting boundaries is not selfish
Saying ‘no’ to things you don’t want allows you to say ‘yes’ to the things you do
Setting boundaries comes with practice; you won’t be perfect from the jump
Saying ‘no’ is a complete sentence
But what does setting boundaries even look like? If you’re struggling to understand your values and limits, book a FREE appointment with a Mental Health professional at Student Wellness Services. In the meantime, these strategies can help you get started:
Writing out your boundaries and priorities: Understanding and affirming your capacities and limits internally can help you express them to others.
Offering alternative solutions instead of saying ‘no’ outright: This can help at work or with friends to reach a healthy compromise without sacrificing your personal boundaries!
Using ‘I’ statements: Framing your boundaries as “I don’t have the capacity to take this on” rather than “you don’t care about my health” can help avoid blame and keep the focus on yourself and your needs!
The bottom line: Saying yes to everything may actually be harming you. Setting better boundaries will not only support your physical and mental health in the long term, but it will help you build better relationships with yourself and others!
It’s time to start saying "no" – guilt free.
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