“No” is difficult for most people to say, particularly when you are choosing between family, friends or work obligations and your healthy goals. But if you’re pursuing a challenging fitness goal, using the word “no” more often may help you reach your goal faster. During the summer months there are backyard barbeques, family reunions, and lazy days at the pool, but if you have a training plan that you hope to accomplish, you may have to use the word “no” more often that you’d like. Before you have to choose between your fitness goals and a summer night out, FitClub has information that might help you get to “no” easier and with less guilt.
Image
There’s only so much of you When you say “yes” to everything, you’re jeopardizing the limited energy stores your body has to meet its daily functions. Couple that with intensive physical training for your goal and you’re setting yourself up for excessive fatigue, mental burnout, and even an actual illness. Your energy stores are limited, even if summer social options aren’t. While your body is generally able to get you through each day with a healthy immune system and mental outlook, it’s not invincible. To be its best and meet the ever increasing physical demands of your training regimen, your body needs extra rest, better hydration, and a healthy diet. These, unfortunately, are often the first things sacrificed when you say “yes” to every social invitation. Making more time for yourself while you’re focused on your goals may be difficult, but saying "no” more often will leave you better able to complete your training plan and accomplish your healthy goals.
Saying “no” may lead to the opportunity to say “yes”. When you say “no” to the social invitations that don’t excite you, you free up time for invitations the better align with your goals. You can say “no” to that potluck that you’re not terribly interested in to say “yes” to a healthy post-workout dinner with your FitClub friends or to attend a seminar that speaks to your passions. Aligning your social invitations with your goals leads to a more fulfilling experience without the guilt or sacrifice associated with saying “yes” to everything.
Saying “no” may improve your mental health. Saying “yes” because “no” makes you feel uncomfortable or leaves you feeling guilty can be detrimental to your mental health and prevent you from reaching your goals. Experts believe that saying “yes” when you would prefer to say “no” often leads to anxiety. When you begin to feel that you’re moving further away from your values or goals because of too many “yes’s” and too little time, you may begin to feel anxious and experience unnecessary stress. When you think about your schedule, the time it takes to accomplish your goals, and your energy level, do you feel motivated or anxious? If it’s anxiety or stress, it’s time to say “no” and focus on yourself for a bit.
Do you struggle with saying “no” even when a “yes” jeopardizes your goals?
