One of the biggest challenges when building a successful career is learning how to balance.

You have to balance your work life and personal life, not letting one negatively impact the other. You have to balance your workload so you don’t feel burnt out. You have to balance your priorities throughout the day in order to meet deadlines. (Lots of “you have to”‘s and “balancing.”)

Regardless of the industry we work in, we want respect for a job well done. We want to be known as team players. These desires often lead us to actively take on an overwhelming number of responsibilities. To prove ourselves to management and coworkers, we become a “yes person.”

This tactic can go downhill fast if you bite off more than you can chew. Projects and responsibilities begin to pile up and you don’t have the time to complete them.

However, you aren’t alone. 53% of Americans report feeling burned out or overworked.

So how do we find a balance between proving our worth and taking on too many projects? Although it can be difficult or inconvenient, sometimes saying no is the best option for everyone involved.

Declining an assignment, at the appropriate time, may allow you to produce a higher quality of work as well as permit you to meet necessary deadlines. That’s not only good for your reputation, but also beneficial to your company.

Saying no at work and creating the appropriate boundaries can lead to a more balanced life. This visual by GetVoIP shows you when you should say no and gives tips on how to say it in a way that will maintain positive relationships with management and co-workers.

After reading through hopefully you will have the resources and courage to address these potentially uncomfortable situations, creating a little more balance in your life.

6 Ways To Say No At Work (While Still Keeping People’s Respect) [INFOGRAPHIC]