Saskatoon needs you - here's how to say yes without stress
Have you ever felt like saying yes to every fundraiser, every GoFundMe, every volunteer request is quietly draining you? I have. Let me preface this post with a giant THANK YOU to those of you who volunteer, give money, or advocate for change. Giving of yourself to strengthen our community is one of the most powerful, uplifting things you can do for yourself & others.
If you don’t currently have volunteering built into your life, I hope you’ll consider it. The United Way keeps a living list of volunteer opportunities in Saskatoon & area to explore, just click here to get started! Thanks in advance to anyone taking that first step.
But maybe you’re like me and you’ve long had volunteerism scheduled into your life. If so, you may notice there are more asks than ever, especially once you’re known to say yes. There was a time where I felt guilty if I didn’t participate in every fundraiser. Donate to every ask. Share every GoFundMe. Repost every call to action.
But over my years of blogging and community-building, I’ve learned something (the hard way): saying yes to everything eventually means saying no to your own sustainability. When you do say “yes,” it should feel joyful instead of draining. Here’s what’s worked for me, and I hope, if I’ve kindly declined to share a reader’s poster or fundraising campaign, that this advice will speak more to why.
How to protect your generosity without burning out:
Choose a short list of causes you support consistently. Keep that list handy in your mind to remind yourself you are making an impact.
Set a budget for giving whether that’s time, money, or influence.
Remember that “no” to one thing is a stronger “yes” to another. Boundaries are not selfish. They make generosity sustainable.
My personal causes include Girl Guides of Canada, Saskatoon Food Bank, Haven Kids House, Dress for Success, Meewasin, Sanctum (for which I’m currently in the midst of a personal $20,000 fundraising goal for the 36 Hour Challenge), and a handful of others. I was also part of the $19M YWCA Hope Lives Here transitional housing project which was amazing to see take shape. And, I volunteer to create Saskatoon weekend guides, highlighting events and businesses in our community.
When I’m not able to take something on, I say “no” by:
Acknowledging the importance of the asker’s cause
Sharing the causes I’m currently working for & explaining that I don’t have the bandwidth to join another cause right now
If I have a helpful idea or a good place for them to share their ask, I’ll pass that along
Wishing them the best in their work & thanking them for helping
I do what I can manage well, while still leaving room for my business to breathe. Because Sneakers & Lipstick is more than a blog. It’s how I earn a living, contribute to my family, and keep showing up. I’m always interested to know what’s happening in the community and love to cheer folks on who are striving to make it better. But if I said yes to every request in my inbox, first of all, my pages would be a bulletin board & my audience would lose interest. And second, I’d be working full-time for free.
If you’re overwhelmed, or carrying too much on your plate because you don’t want to let anyone down, remember that boundaries won’t exist unless you create them. Say this with me:
I don’t exist to promote or to say yes to everything. I’m allowed to make a list of causes or commitments I can say yes to… and kindly decline the rest. I’m allowed to give of my time, money, and influence in ways that feel sustainable, not sacrificial. And if someone doesn’t understand my boundaries, that doesn’t mean I’m doing it wrong. It means they haven’t had to live at the intersection of generosity and exhaustion. Yet!
Like they say, many hands make light work. If you want to learn more about the Sanctum challenge, please click here. And if you feel called to donate, I will see and appreciate you. And if you’re called to another cause, that’s wonderful, too.
Here’s to reclaiming our “yes.” To a life where giving is sustainable, joyful, and shared. Because generosity shouldn’t come at the cost of ourselves, it should fuel us to keep showing up.
Maygen
p.s. Don’t hesitate to keep me in your loop. I may not always be able to share your cause but conversation and connection matter!
