Why You Should Say “No” More Often

Image of a woman grasping her hair and the phrase, Why You Should Say No More Often Do you find it difficult to do your work, study, run errands, or just take care of little everyday items?

Does it feel as if you don’t have enough time to yourself during the day?

In this post, I offer a few reasons as to why you might want to make use of a little, yet powerful, word more often.

What is the word? Simply put, it is “no.”

You need to do your work.

It takes time to do any type of work, be it office work, school work, or household chores.

It’s even harder to get that work done when you’re constantly interrupted or bombarded with distractions.

Sometimes, it all boils down to sitting down, focusing on a task or project, and getting it done. 

If you need to get work done, especially if you’re on a deadline, don’t be afraid to say “no.”

This applies to any questions, queries, interruptions, or requests you may receive.

If it makes you feel better, you can say something along the lines of, “No, I cannot do that right now. When I am finished with this work, I can help you.”

You need to protect your time.

This point is similar to the one above. Saying “no” to something is a way for you to protect your schedule. It could be as small as five minutes, or as long as five hours, but one thing is clear, that time is not to be trifled with on any account, by anyone.

Another way to look at this whole time protection thing, is that when you say “no” to something, you’re actually saying “yes” to yourself. You’re actively saying “yes” to preserving both your precious time and energy.

So, if you feel as if you don’t have a moment to spare for yourself, flip the switch and say “no.” Always keep in mind that no one else is going to protect or manage your time for you. Be brave, speak confidently, and stand up for your valuable time.

You’ll feel better about your decisions.

Let’s suppose for a moment that you said “yes” to every single thing that came to you over the course of a day. While you’d make some good decisions, you’d probably also make some equally silly, frustrating, and perhaps even regrettable decisions. Of course, the same thing would happen if you said “no” to every single thing that came to you that same day.

What’s the lesson here? What many people forget is that they have the option of saying “yes” or “no” to something. You have a right to make a decision for yourself. It is your life after all!

If you’ve been feeling less than satisfied with your decisions over the past few weeks and months, maybe it’s time to say “no” to something. Keep in this in your back pocket: saying “no” isn’t personal, just as saying “yes” isn’t personal. It’s just a decision. Will you, or won’t you, do something? The choice is yours.

How about you? When’s the last time you put your foot down and said “no” to something that wasn’t worth your time, or energy? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!

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About the Author

Rashelle

Rashelle Isip is a New York City-based productivity consultant who helps successful entrepreneurs and business owners manage their time and energy so they can reduce stress, work less, and make more money in their businesses. She has been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, NBC News, The Washington Post, NPR, and The Atlantic. Get her free guide, 5 Unexpected Things You Need to Organize a Work Notebook, by clicking here.

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