#9. How Saying “Yes” Is Quietly Burning You Out: Practical Strategies For Saying "NO."

It’s November — the month of gratitude walls, themed assemblies, and endless reminders to “be thankful.”

And while gratitude is beautiful… sometimes it becomes a mask.

This week on the TenX Teaching Podcast, we’re kicking off the NO-vember Teacher Challenge — a month-long invitation to stop saying “Yes” out of guilt, obligation, or habit… and start saying “NO” with intention.

In this empowering episode, Mary shares a personal story about holiday traditions, emotional overload, and the moment she realized that gratitude and exhaustion can coexist. You’ll learn how to identify the “quiet shoulds” that drain your energy and discover how to release traditions or routines that no longer serve you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why gratitude sometimes becomes a mask — and how to gently remove it

• How to spot the hidden “shoulds” that drain your emotional bandwidth

• A 3-step reflection process to evaluate your traditions, routines, and expectations Simple, practical scripts for saying NO without guilt or over-explaining

• How to choose connection, rest, and joy over pressure and perfection

Whether you’re navigating family traditions, school commitments, or internal pressures, this episode will help you create space for what truly matters. Because sometimes the most empowering thing you can do as a teacher is say NO — so you can say YES to what matters most.

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Credits: 

"Catchy Positive Sports Pop Rock", is adapted from "Catchy Positive Sports Pop Rock" by Music for Creators, used under CC BY 4.0. "Catchy Positive Sports Pop Rock" is licensed under CC BY 4.0 by TenXTeaching.