Yesterday, something happened in my workplace, and I can’t stop thinking about it. As some of you may know, I started working in a new place in September. It was a rocky start and process, but recently I finally feel like I found my place there. I developed connections with many people in my department, and I am finally in a place in which I enjoy coming to work. However, because of my apologetic and careful nature, I am still hesitant around people in my department and often avoid saying no or say something that might lead to a disagreement. You should also know that I am an over-thinker and a pleaser, meaning I will often look past my feelings and wants and will do what it takes to satisfy the other side. And that leads me to what happened yesterday, so, here’s what happened.

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I usually leave my workplace at around six, and everyone in my department knows that this is when I depart. However, yesterday, at around five minutes to five, several of my co-workers, all of a sudden, had some more work for me that they remembered at the last minute. Yesterday, I had plans immediately after work, plans that I couldn’t cancel or postpone. So, for the first time since working there, I stood up for my time; For myself. I went up and told then that, unfortunately, and as much as I’d like to help, I can’t because I’m in a hurry. Everything went fine, and no one said anything against me, but I just can’t stop overthinking it. I keep thinking I let them down, or that I was out of place for standing up for myself. And it’s not like I always do it, too often I stay overtime, and am happy to do so, but yesterday I couldn’t, and I can’t stop thinking about it. I know I’m probably overthinking everything and that I did what I had to do, and I hope that these thoughts will leave me soon.