Yes. No. I mean – maybe? Well, okay. Have you ever wanted to be able to say "no" without feeling guilty? Without feeling you're letting someone down? Many of us struggle with disappointing anyone with a 'no.' At the same time, those two letters, n-o, can be freeing.

If you’re managing a chronic condition, the ability to say no is a powerful skill that can ultimately give you the gifts of time and energy to dedicate to your health. By trading off doing something you truly don’t have the time to do, you can give yourself more breathing room to stay on top of appointments, treatments, and general self-care. It becomes easier to say “no” with practice.

There are a variety of ways to say no and set boundaries with friends and family with no hard feelings. How do you say “no” to others? Are you direct? Do you provide rain checks?

Here are some conversations about this topic from the community:

“Speak up. It’s worth it. People will listen. And if they don’t, find the people who will.” 

“When you are comfortable with your respite care solution, regularly schedule time away from your caregiving responsibilities.” 

“Issues can crop up quite suddenly, and they will, almost always, result in a complete change in my schedule.”

When has saying no been a form of self-care for you?
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