I have a confession. The other night I posted a recap of our annual family tradition of attending the Harlem Globetrotters basketball game on Instagram. I posted that I was excited to attend again since not being able to since the start of the pandemic.
Well, we had tickets and simply didn’t go. By the time I had gotten off from work, I was exhausted. All I wanted to do was shower, get comfy, eat some pizza, and watch a movie. And, that’s what I did.
Grinding 24/7 can’t be healthy for us and sometimes, we have to learn to set boundaries and say “no” to the things we cannot do or do not want to do. We need to focus more on our health, what we want, and what we need.
If you agree and can relate, check out these five things to say no to this year.
Events You Don’t Want to Attend
First things first, let’s start with the obvious. If you don’t want to attend an event, don’t. There’s no need to feel bad about it. Your happiness comes above feeling bad for the person hosting the event. Maybe you need sleep, don’t feel the best, or maybe you just want a night in.
Whatever it is, say “no” to events, parties, dinners, and more, that you do not want to attend. You don’t need to make up an excuse. Be honest about it.
True friends will understand and be there to support you! If you had a rough work week, all you have to say is, “I am so sorry about this, but this week has thrown me for a loop and I really just need a night to chill on my couch with a bottle of wine. I know we were supposed to go out to dinner, but you are welcome to have a lazy night in with me if you’d like.”
You do you, but make sure whatever you are doing is something that you are actually excited about! This will help set boundaries, and boundaries only improve your physical and mental well-being at the end of the day. Stretching yourself thin, does not!
Bad Finances
Next is poor money management, which is why I created the Side Hustle Income Plan worksheet, which can be found on Etsy or on my sidebar. It’s so important to be mindful of your finances and have a plan for your money whether it’s your full-time income, part-time income, etc.
Simply say no to bad finances – you can make smart, intentional decisions to make sure that you are stress-free, especially when it comes to your wallet.
One good way to downsize and improve finances is to move or sell your home if you have equity built up in it. You could downsize, temporarily rent, or buy something less expensive.
One thing not to skimp on, though, during a moving process? Movers. Just find movers that are affordable in the area, like Fresh Start – The Moving Crew. Not only are they affordable, but they have amazing reviews and work really hard to 100% satisfy every single one of their clients. They offer residential moving services, commercial moving services, packing, and even long distance moving Worcester MA.
Skipping Out on Travel Opportunities
I know this is kind of contradicting the good finances part, but hear me out. If you are able to save and plan accordingly, you should travel.
Saying “no” to travel opportunities might be smart financially sometimes (and when it is, you should probably stay home), however, saying “no” to travel also cuts off your opportunities. I truly believe that in this life, we need to make the most out of it, and we only have a set time here on this earth.
Make the most of it and say “yes” to as much travel as you can, especially while you are young. You won’t regret that; trust me.
Using Toxic Products
If there are better options that work just as well as the not-so-better options, why would you continue to use the toxic products out there? Companies such as Branch Basics, BeautyCounter, Active Skin Repair, Wondercide, Under Luna, Alevia, and so many more are actively trying to make the best products out there for their consumers, to make sure that they are in good health, but also using products that work well. In a day and age where we have the option to choose better products, don’t say “no” just because you are comfortable with the options that you currently use.
Your Comfort Zone
Speaking of your comfort zone, it’s never a good idea to stay there. I mean, I guess there are rare occurrences where it is a bit smart to stay where you are, but in the grand scheme of things, most of the time, staying in your comfort zone only limits you in life.
Be fearless and make big moves, get comfortable with feeling a bit scared sometimes. It will be better for you in the long run and give you more opportunities to do great things in your life.
Final Thoughts
This is a new year. You don’t have to live it the way that you’ve always been living your life. Be fearless, make big moves, and say no to the five things outlined in this post to live a more authentic year.
