The Surprising Ease of Saying 'No' to Holiday Invitations

People tend to overestimate the negative social consequences of declining invitations, according to a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The research found that individuals often believe that rejecting an invitation will have severe ramifications for their relationships, leading to feelings of anger and disappointment from the inviter. However, the study suggests that these fears are unfounded, as people tend to exaggerate the focus on the act of declining rather than the thoughts behind the decision. The findings indicate that individuals can benefit from occasionally turning down invitations to avoid burnout, as the consequences are not as severe as anticipated.