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You have to set boundaries for yourself. Don't feel guilty, there's only so much you can do. Don't take on more than you can handle.
Until you’re tenured keep saying yes.
Wait... you can say no?
I’m not sure where you are in your teaching career, but I think it gets easier to say “no” the longer you’ve been teaching. You come to find out that some people are opportunists and will take as much as you give, and more. If it’s someone who doesn’t constantly ask for favors, I am more apt to help them if they need it. You’ll figure out who those people are the longer you’re there.
Thanks for considering me, I’m not able to given my ongoing commitments.
Easy, I just say no, but thanks for thinking of me.
Good question. I was just thinking about that today. I said no to an extra duty this week because I already filled in one. I said ask someone else and they were fine with it. I also said no to a meeting as I just sat in on one last week and they hadn't been asking my coworker to do the same all year. Just stay saying no, it's pretty easy. But sometimes you want to say yes to help out.
I haven't found a way to say no. I feel guilty if I say no, because I think, "If they are needing help so badly that they are asking, it is wrong of me not to help".