Say No More Often—So You Can Go All In on the Right Yes
Many people struggle with saying no.
- Boss needs you to work the long weekend (again)
- A friend invites you to an event that doesn't interest you
- A family member asks you to run an errand last minute
We worry about letting others down.
However, every time you say yes to something you’re not excited about, you’re saying no to something else because your time is finite.
Whether it's lost time for self-care, passion projects, or something even more exciting in the future, there's always a trade-off every time you say yes.
Hell Yeah Or No
Author and entrepreneur, Derek Sivers, said it best: If it's not a hell yeah, it's a no.
Saying no more often creates free time, energy, and mental clarity. When something truly exciting comes along, you’ll be ready to go all in.
A person who says no isn't selfish; they're just managing their time. And when they finally say yes, you can trust that they will give you 100% effort.
Derek Sivers
Traffic Light Test
A simple tool when faced with a tough decision is the Traffic Light Test:
- If a new opportunity makes you feel mostly excited & a bit scared, that's your green light to go ahead.
- If you feel mostly scared, it's a yellow. You need more information.
- If mostly dread, that's a red light.
Say no to requests that don't excite you, so you can be ready for the things that matter more.
Declutter Your Life
Think of how drained you felt when you tried to cram work, fitness, family, finances, and hobbies into same day.
Many people think they can "do it all" by being more efficient, only to end up with anxiety, longer to-do lists, and missing out on what truly matters to them.
Declutter your life.
Protect your time.
Say no more often.
For more on this topic, check out my article on the "efficiency trap."
Do you feel like there's a big gap between your ideal and current life? That's how I felt for years until I took action. Since leaving my full-time job, I've built a career I feel deeply passionate about, made more time for my loved ones, and began pursuing passion projects (like this blog!).
I created a practical guide filled with actionable, research-backed ideas to help you build the life you want – many of which helped me on my own journey.
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