Yes. No. I mean – maybe? Well, okay. Have you ever wanted to be able to say "no" without feeling guilty? Without feeling you're letting someone down? Many of us struggle with disappointing anyone with a 'no.' At the same time, those two letters, n-o, can be freeing.

If you’re a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer's, the ability to say no is a powerful skill that can ultimately give you the gifts of time and energy to dedicate to your health and the health of your loved one. By trading off doing something you truly don’t have the time to do, you can give yourself more breathing room to stay on top of appointments, treatments, and general self-care. It becomes easier to say “no” with practice.

There are a variety of ways to say no and set boundaries with friends and family with no hard feelings. How do you say “no” to others? Are you direct? Do you provide rain checks?

Here are some conversations about this topic from the community:

"How do you deal with family when they advise how to do things or what to say when they have no clue?" 

“When I try to set boundaries and get rest, I get a lot of push-back.” 

“His family thinks I am being selfish taking him to respite.” 

“I honestly would like to do something by myself.”

When has saying no been a form of self-care for you? 
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