When to Say No
You’re sitting in the library, you’re on your third cup of coffee for the day, and you’ve only written a third of the essay that’s due tomorrow. You feel stressed beyond belief, and you’re not quite sure when you’re going to actually get some decent sleep. Then you get a text from your friend, asking if you do the lighting for her film she’s shooting for class — meeting during your only free time this week. You groan as you contemplate your options; you would really like a break, but helping with this project would add to your list of experience, and would help build your portfolio. So what is it: sleep, or resume?
College is the ever-busy realm, filled with endless resume-building opportunities, and constant reminders of what’s expected of us in the real world. The looming job market and questions of “What are you going to do after college?” leave many students filling their plates with more than they can handle in an attempt to be the most appealing candidate after graduation.
But when does it all become too much?
While being the overachiever that is expected of many students, we tend to neglect our mental health. It may seem like nothing at first — sure, you pull one or two all nighters that week, and maybe have coffee for lunch one day, it can’t be that bad, can it?
Stress can have a negative impact not only on your mental health, but on your physical health in general. According to WebMD, physical signs of stress are headaches, insomnia, feelings of loneliness or depression, stomach aches, and so many more. All of these symptoms can make it harder to concentrate on your work, and ultimately affect your productivity. Being overly stressed also weakens your immune system, according to the American Psychological Association. When you start to experience the above symptoms, you become more susceptible to diseases, such as the cold or flu. And let’s face it: You’re not as productive when you’re sick.
So when do you actually need to say no? When it starts to affect your physical health is a good starting point, but you don’t always need to wait until you get there to justify saying no. Listen to yourself and your body, and when you pay attention to when enough is enough. Your school life shouldn’t be limiting your social life — meaning you shouldn’t continuously turn down time with friends to do homework and other obligations. If you’re missing out on sleep and are starting to feel overly tired all the time is another indicator that it might be time to take a break.
If you’re stuck in a situation where saying no isn’t really a viable option, then try different ways of managing the stress. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, there are simple things that you can do every day to help manage your stress, and avoid breakdowns. Taking breaks and stepping away from your stressor can help clear your head, as can focusing on your breathing and counting to ten. Also focus on eating healthy meals three times a day, avoiding caffeine, and getting enough sleep. All of these can help make you feel at least a little better when you can’t avoid the stress.
Being a college student is stressful, and can easily take a toll on both your mental and physical health. Pay attention to how your body and mind are reacting to the amount of stress you’re putting yourself through, and acknowledge when you’re doing too much. And remember, it’s okay to say no sometimes, especially when your health is on the line.
