These are the 4 times youre allowed to say no at work

These are the 4 times youre allowed to say no at workThese are the 4 times youre allowed to say no at workFOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is real, and it happens in both our work and partieal lives. Because of this fear of missing an opportunity, its easy to find yourself on the yes train, only to feel overexerted and spread too thin. While taking advantage of opportunities that can help your career is great, its important to realize when saying no is in your best interest.Here are four times youre allowed to say no at work.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWhen your calendar is already crammedWhen your schedule is jam-packed, saying no is probably the way to go. While you may be able to fit in a quick meeting or take on one extra project, its important to assess the obligations youve already committed to before saying yes to something else. Would taking on this extra task take a lot o f time? How much would it cut into your current projects?If saying yes to a new opportunity would hinder your ability to complete tasks youve already committed to, just say no. This can be hard, especially if youre a people pleaser, but at the end of the day, taking on more is leid always better. Instead, focus on putting your best foot forward on your current commitments.If saying yes to a new opportunity would hinder your ability to complete tasks youve already committed to, just say no.When youd be covering for someone else whos always slacking Are you constantly covering for a coworker who cant seem to be bothered to lift a finger? When your boss recognizes you for your ability to pick up the pieces, it can be hard to put an end to things- but theres a point when its not worth it.If you continually cover for someone or finish the work that they were supposed to, youre showing that person that A) you dont mind that theyre slacking and B) they can continue to slack off because you will finish what they dont. In this case, youre doing yourself and the other person a disservice. Try talking to them directly, and if that doesnt work, discuss the situation with your boss. Point out that youre taking on someone elses role and its impeding on your ability to get your own work completed to your standards.Try approaching the subject like thisIve been doing x, y, and z to help Name, but its getting difficult to get everything done to my standards. Im happy to help, but it seems to be more of an ongoing issue than a one-off situation, and I dont want it to affect responsibilities Ive already committed to. Is there a better way we can delegate responsibilities or create more accountability as a team?When its a last-minute request and you already have other obligationsWeve all had that last-minute work request that makes our stomach sink, whether its an after-hours event or a last-minute meeting. Sometimes you just suck it up and deal with it (yes, its part of being an adult), but its okay to say no if it will impede on other obligations.If youve already made other commitments, explain the situation. Show that you would like to make it work but its not an option since its last-minute. You can say something like thisUnfortunately, Im not able to make that work because of the timing. Ive already made other commitments I cant cancel however, Im happy to work with you to figure out another time that works better.If your manager cant appreciate that that youve made commitments and you want to stick with them, you may not be in a work environment where you can thrive.If it makes you uncomfortable (morally or physically)This is simple If something makes you uncomfortable, morally or physically, just say no.If you feel like something isnt right, trust your gut. You can always say Im not comfortable doing that, or simply decline and say that youre working on another project. Assessing the situation, your needs (both mental and physical), and how the reques t will affect you is essential to figuring out if the project is in your best interest.If something makes you physically uncomfortable, get yourself out of that situation immediately and contact someone of authority. Whether its HR or legal authorities, if there is misconduct in the workplace, use your voice and be confident that no one should make you uncomfortable.This article originally appeared on Create Cultivate.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people