How to say 'no' at work without hurting your career
This article provides professional advice on how to decline additional work tasks when at capacity to avoid burnout. It suggests communicating workload constraints to managers and asking for prioritization rather than simply refusing tasks.
Why it matters
As workplace burnout rates rise, learning to set professional boundaries is essential for maintaining long-term productivity and mental health.
Saying "no" is a professional skill, according to etiquette experts. Teera Konakan/Getty Images Today's tip to get better at work: The best way to say "no" to more work when you are at capacity. Setting boundaries helps maintain high-quality work and prevents burnout. If you're given a new task when you already have a lot on your plate, ask what you should prioritize. Get better at: Setting boundaries Today's move Don't say '"yes" to more work just because you're asked, especially if your plate is full and you could compromise your other work. If you're given a shorter-term ask and you have another fast-approaching deadline, tell your manager that you'd be happy to take on the additional project but in order to do it well, you'd need to deprioritize something else. Ask them what they would like you to focus on.
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