Working Well: Saying no is hard, but setting boundaries can improve your health

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Bobby Dutton, the founder of event production company GBM6, uses a technique he calls “aggressive calendering.” He schedules the task he’s most likely to procrastinate on, such as handling contracts and invoices, for every Monday at 2 p.m. To keep his calendar from becoming overloaded, he also books time for recurring routine tasks like making coffee, walking the dog and eating lunch. Stewart worked on letting colleagues know when his assignment load began feeling too heavy with phrases like “Hey, this is a lot for me" or "You gave me seven stories, I think I can get four or five done.” Cara Houser, a workplace engagement coach, says you don’t have to explain yourself when declining a request. So everything that’s on your mind, you can and then I can plan my time accordingly.” Pay attention to the activities and interactions that leave you feeling drained or overwhelmed, Nasir said. During chemotherapy, she could only muster up enough energy to put in four hours a day, and even then felt like she was working “in a vat of molasses.” After treatment, "I realized I was going to live, and then I said to myself, ‘Do I want to continue doing this?’” Perkins said.