Have you ever felt pressured to accept invitations to events or gatherings that you didn’t really want to go to? Recent research, conducted by Julian Jevem of West Virginia University, shows that learning to say “no” can not only be liberating, but also beneficial to your life. Psychological health.
Benefits of declining invitations
It’s common to feel guilty when declining an invitation, especially during holiday seasons when invitations abound.
Julian Jevem Highlights: “Burnout is real, especially around the holidays when we’re often invited to too many events. Don’t be afraid to decline invitations here and there.”.
Research suggests that the consequences of saying “no” are usually less serious than we think.
Studies reveal: People overestimate negative feedback
Jevim conducted five experiments with more than 2,000 participants, and found this to be the case in many cases We overestimate the negative reactions of others When we decline an invitation.
He adds: “But keep in mind that spending time with others is how relationships develop, so don’t turn down every invitation. [selecione]”.
One experiment involved two scenarios with groups of friends, where one group was invited to dinner and asked to decline, while the other group was invited and told to decline.
Many participants believed that declining the invitation would leave a significant negative impression. Julian explains: “We always find that guests overestimate the negative repercussions that appear in the eyes of the ‘invitees’ after declining an invitation.”
In a similar experiment with couples, the results were similar. Many believe that their partner will be upset or feel rejected after declining an invitation.
However, Julian notes: “Although there were times when I felt a little annoyed by someone declining an invitation, our research gives us good reason to predict that people underestimate negative consequences in relationships as well.”.
Refuse to avoid burnout
Saying no when you don’t really want to go somewhere can help avoid burnout, and thus benefit your mental health. It’s important to remember that people tend to understand when you need time to yourself.
Furthermore, it is essential to make time to relax and do activities you enjoy. After all, taking care of yourself is just as important as maintaining it Social relations.
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