Learning to say “no”

David Phipps makes an excellent point in the comments on my last post, concluding

…you’re not THAT busy, it’s just that your job IS your life. It doesn’t have to be. Make a break. Take a breath. It doesn’t all need to get done. Learn to make choices.

I agree with him.

I know that academic workloads can be nuts. I’ve been an academic.

I also know that as an academic you have considerably more control over your work than many other professionals.

Autonomy has a downside.

You have to make decisions for yourself. And you have to take responsibility for the consequences of those decisions.

It’s hard to say no

You feel like you are letting someone down.

You are worried that saying no will annoy someone who has power to harm your career.

You grieve the loss of the possibilities a particular opportunity might bring.

You are also responsible for the consequences of not making a decision

When you stretch yourself too thin, you don’t do anything to your best ability.

The fact that your best ability is so fabulous means you might still be performing more than adequately even when overstretched.

But you know that it isn’t your best, and that is adding to the anxiety and fear that is pushing all this activity.

Saying no is saying yes

Saying no enables you to give more of yourself to the important things.

You will be able to deliver your fabulous best on the things you say yes to.

It enables you to be a better teacher for the classes you are teaching.

It enables you to be a better scholar and produce better work in the areas you are focusing on.

It enables you to make a better contribution to the committees you agree to serve on.

It enables you to be a better partner, parent, friend, sibling, child, neighbour, local community activist, …

It enables you to really relax and enjoy your holiday and return to your work (and life) refreshed and re-energized.

You have limited capacity.

Figure out what is important.

Get enough rest.

Your work is not your life.

You are not a cardiac surgeon. No one will die.