Have too much to do? Stressed? Overcommitted at home and at work?
Would you believe me if I told you there was a straightforward solution to your troubles? One that doesn't cost anything at all. You might not believe me, but thatβs where I get a chance to introduce one simple word that may change your life.
βNo.β
Yes, βno.β Now, say it out loud with me, slow and loud β βNoβ¦..β
Donβt like spending time on remote Meetups? Do you feel like youβre signing on just for the sake of it, and not learning anything new anymore? Then donβt. You donβt need to keep spending time on it just because of inertia or habit.
You donβt have to continue contributing to that open source project if you donβt find the work rewarding. Thereβs no need to squeeze something into every free bit of time you have on your calendar.
It may be easy breaking casual agreements, but I have news for you. Even promises and commitments arenβt ironclad. If youβre someone who always dots your iβs and crosses your tβs, the idea of breaking a pledge might seem terrifying, something you do only as a worst-case scenario. But believe me, it really is possible if you put your mind to it.
You may think that if you start saying βnoβ in the office youβll get fired or demoted, or if you say βnoβ to your friends, they might stop calling you back. In fact, in most cases the opposite is true. By saying no to the things that stretch you too thin, you can produce higher quality work and spend time with the people you love.
Chances are, the people around you may already have realized that you need to take a breather.
Breaking commitments is tough, but next time practice saying βnoβ before you enter into one. By saying βnoβ to projects at work that aren't a good fit, you can spend more focus time working on the areas where youβll have the most impact. Work with your manager to communicate about expectations upfront.
If you do need to break a commitment, do your best to offer alternatives. Think about other options. Can you delegate? Can you point the person to someone who may have more information? Can you recommend someone whoβs better skilled or suited for the task? Can the project be put off until some other time, when youβll have fewer obligations? This effort will help mitigate any issues that crop up.
Donβt get me wrong β I still have trouble saying no and turning down work and obligations. Luckily, like most things, itβs a skill that gets better with practice.
Next time youβre faced with something that you donβt have the bandwidth to tackle, try saying βnoβ instead. If you have a hard time saying βnoβ to someoneβs face, you can imagine them asking you for $1,000 instead. Iβm sure you wonβt have trouble saying βnoβ to them now!
As adults, we have limited attention and time because of endless distractions. It often takes us longer to actually do something than we anticipated.
By saying βnoβ and stepping away from too many unattainable commitments, culling excessive meetings and social appointments, and turning down unnecessary responsibilities, youβll also be stepping away from guilt, stress, and excess worry. This is especially important during a time when many of us have lost access to relaxing activities and the support of seeing friends.
Itβs entirely reasonable to say no to an obligation if you canβt handle the extra load. In the end, youβll have more free time left over for what truly matters β hobbies, friends, family, and most importantly, free time for yourself.
Top comments (6)
That sweet sweet click bait title
Haha! It's perfect. Was pleasantly surprised with the overall message β definitely a productivity booster. π
I couldnβt help myself. π
I often find that calmly explaining to management that I could do X, but it would mean dropping Y, a wonderful way to focus their minds.
Thanks for reminding us about that. Itβs easy for even me to forget...
Thank you!