Professional Practice

Art Teachers Say No Without the Guilt: How to Set Boundaries at Work

| October 23, 2025

Do you feel guilty every time you try to say “no?” You’re not alone. In this video clip from AOE’s Art Ed Radio Podcast, we break down why saying no often feels so hard—especially at work—and share practical ways to set boundaries without guilt.

You’ll learn:

  • Why saying no is critical for avoiding burnout.
  • How to reframe saying no to protect your time, energy, and what really matters.
  • Concrete phrasing to use when you can’t take something on.

Dig into more ways to build support with these three resources:

  1. Why Is It Important to Prioritize Yourself During the School Day?
  2. 7 Tips to Help You Set Boundaries in the Art Room with Confidence
  3. The September Mailbag: Protecting Your Prep, Saying No Without Guilt, and Our Favorite Artists (Ep. 483)

To chat about setting boundaries with other art teachers, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lindsey McGinnis

Lindsey McGinnis is AOE’s Media Content Manager and a former high school art educator. She is passionate about equipping art teachers to be successful in their classrooms and firmly believes that art is the best place for students to explore and process the challenging topics and concepts around them.

More from Lindsey

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