The Art of Saying No during Festival, Celebration or Holiday Season Without Feeling Guilty

Working in social and health care or many professions means the festive celebration events doesn’t always mean time off. Rotas, on-call duties, and last-minute shift requests can make festivals, celebrations  more exhausting than cheerful.​

Learning to say “no” to extra demands, both work and personal, helps protect your wellbeing.​

The Gift You Should Give Yourself This Year​

The best gift you can give yourself is permission, to rest, to say no, to prioritise your health.​

Tips:​

• Take a full day without checking your phone.​

• Choose one event instead of three.​

• Opt for an easy meal instead of cooking after shifts.​

Tips:​

• Replace “I can’t” with “I’m not able to this time, but thank you”.​

• Book “non-negotiable rest time” into your diary.​

• Limit social media if festive posts add pressure.​

Short read: Very well Mind – Holiday Stress​

​ Video: Stress Management for the Holidays​

•  Which extra shift or social event will you say no to this month to protect your energy?​

•  Write yourself a permission slip for something you’ll not do this holiday.​

Make your Self-care Inevitable!​