Sometimes, it's hard to say no to people, whether they be friends, family, coworkers, bosses, or supervisors. We're often told that saying no is reasonable and what you should do if someone asks you to do something and you don't want to do it, or you're too busy and already have a lot going on. But it can be uncomfortable for us to say no, for a number of reasons.
You don't want to hurt someone's feelings or let a person down. Saying no to authority such as a boss can be hard, you feel like you owe it to that person to help them out, or you always said yes in the past and don't want people to make different assumptions about you.
When you start saying yes for other people's benefit and not yours, a vicious cycle starts. One where you feel like you have to say yes because the other person expects you too, and then you get trapped into feeling guilty if you do say no for the first time.
Give yourself the freedom and relaxation of saying no. Be assertive and don't give excuses. If you really do not want to come into work on your off day, meet a friend for lunch, give someone a ride, or go out at night, say no and you'll feel better. Sure, standing your ground and saying no can make you feel uncomfortable, but not any worse than doing something you didn't want to do in the first place. It's perfectly OK to say no and enjoy alone time. In my experience, there will be other times your boss asks you to come in on an off day or stay late and your friends will ask another time for a ride or to go out at night.
It's easier to say yes to people, but learning to say no is an important skill and will make your life less stressful. Think about the reasons you're compelled to say yes and think about what you truly want vs. what you think others want. If those are different, do what you want. I promise, the other person will not feel offended if you say no. A boss or friend will be understanding and respect that you were assertive.
