Overwhelmed by Christmas already? How to get better at saying no
The winter holiday period is meant to be joyful, yet for many of us it comes with a heavy mix of responsibilities and social pressure to go to parties and events we don't want to.
Agreeing to something we don't want to do is a feeling that we've all experienced. It can manifest in physical responses like a tight stomach, a dry mouth, or even a higher heart rate.
Dr Xand and Dr Chris van Tulleken, hosts of the BBC's What's Up Docs wellness podcast, say they've both been affected.
"We both get the wobbly voice.
It's so hard to go, 'actually, I don't want to do this thing you're asking me to do. I don't want to go along with the thing we're all expected to go along with,'" says Dr Xand on What's Up Docs.
But getting more comfortable with saying no may be the first step to taking more control over our lives.
"Whether you're eight or 80, saying no, and sticking up for what you believe in is actually quite important for your mental health," says Dr Xand.
Behavioural scientist Dr Sunita Sah suggests three ways to get better at it.…
