The Importance of Saying "No"
If you categorize yourself as ambitious, you may be eager to take on all the opportunities that come your way. Whether it be to build your resume or fill some free time, it’s important to reflect on the time commitment, workload and your own mental health before jumping in headfirst.
Establish Your Current Priorities
What are your current responsibilities? Do you work and for how many hours? How many credits are you taking and what is your homework like? Are you a part of any clubs that require an external time commitment?
I’m a sucker for a good, old-fashioned list. Write these things out to get a visual sense of where your time is being spent. If you prefer digital, create a calendar in a spreadsheet with time blocks to see what you typically do at certain times throughout the day. Color-coding your schedules go a long way, too! This helps differentiate where your time is being spent.
Getting a grip on your current schedule will be the first step to figuring out if you can even take on any more projects, especially if they aren’t mandatory.
Ask Questions Before Saying ‘Yes’
If you’re about to say ‘yes’ to a new opportunity, ask questions to get a better understanding of what exactly it is you’re signing up for. A lot of times, people take on more than they can handle because they see the opportunities as good, but fail to ask questions where the answers could deter them away.
What is the time commitment?
What does the workload look like?
Are there special meetings you need to attend?
Is there a cost to join the club?
If there is something you’re worried about, ask! Going in blind and then realizing it’s not what you thought it would be may discourage you from doing your best and trying your hardest. Make sure you understand all the aspects of what you’re signing up for before you say yes.
Choose Opportunities That Allow You to Stand Out
If you’re taking on more to add more to your resume, make sure these opportunities are going to make you stand out from other job applicants.
Don’t Exhaust Your Brain
Mental health is incredibly important, but only you know your limits. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with your current workload, it may not be wise to take on anything else, even if it is an amazing opportunity. It’s ok to test your limits, but you want to be sure that you have the mental stamina to keep up with your responsibilities. Taking on more might mean having less time for you. Breaks are important, so will taking on this new responsibility allow you to enjoy your free time?
Remember: Quality, not Quantity
Just because you’ve signed up for each and every opportunity, doesn’t mean you’re consistently putting out your best work. It’s ok to decline opportunities in order to give 100% to all you do. If you’ve taken on more projects to boost your resume, but haven’t created work you’re proud of, is it worth it? If you have one project that you’re extremely proud of, that’s better than three projects that showcase mediocre work.
When taking on new projects and roles, keep in mind your current schedule, mental health and your ability to put out consistent work. Signing up for new opportunities is a great way to challenge yourself and grow. Make sure to consider your choice, so you can find the importance of being able to say “no.”
About Carolyn:
Carolyn Mathis is a senior in the Advertising and Public Relations program. This is Carolyn’s second semester in GrandPR, but her first semester as an Account Executive. She is working towards her PRSSA Certificate in Public Relations Fundamentals and also serves on the membership committee at West Michigan’s chapter of PRSA as a student volunteer. As someone who has had a hard time saying ‘no’, Carolyn hopes you find value in this blog and understand that it’s ok to turn down opportunities. After graduation, this April, Carolyn plans to move to Chicago to pursue a career in the windy city’s agency life. When she finds time in her busy schedule, Carolyn enjoys playing board games with her family or catching up on the latest true-crime podcast.