Early in Leah’s career, she said yes to absolutely everything. Review this paper?
Yes, sounds interesting! Give this presentation?
Ooh, yes please! Serve on this time-intensive committee? Happy to help! Take part in an uninteresting activity in another country at a highly inconvenient date and time?
Sure, why not? Whether caused by a combination of excitement about being a part of the field or an aversion to letting people down, she simply did not know how to say a simple word: “No.”
In hindsight, Leah should have said no more often. Saying yes to one thing inevitably took time away from something or someone else. Her commitments ballooned and put a crunch on the time she needed for core academic activities, such as writing and mentoring. Being overcommitted also induced a chronic state of stress. It’s a common problem in academia: Over time, a propensity to say yes to everything can lead to burnout, mental and physical health problems, and an ironic lack of bandwidt