As much as we may want to say “yes,” every “yes” is an automatic “no” to someone else. Rather than being overwhelmed and allowing every urgent deadline to determine what you do, practice saying “no” ahead of time. Although my four-year old daughter is great at saying “no,” this is something I continue to practice. 🙂 Join me this week as I provide three ideas on how you can practice your “no.”
Consider your current commitments
Who do you want to say “yes” to right now? What kinds of things are you already doing? How much time do those take to complete? When we don’t consider what we are already committed to doing, it is really easy for us to say “yes” and then become overwhelmed. If we take the time to really reflect on our current priorities and commitments, then it becomes more clear when we need to say “no.” And these commitments are not all work-related. If we want to spend time with important people in our lives, we need to protect that time and say “no” to other opportunities. This is one way you can practice implementing your “ideal week.”
Think of other people who may be a good fit
When someone asks you to do something, rather than immediately trying to figure out a way to say “yes,” consider other people who may be a good fit for the opportunity. If you can find someone else, you create a win-win situation. By considering another person, you provide an opportunity for that person and you prevent yourself from becoming overwhelmed again. Your “no” provides a “yes” for another person.
Recruit help from others
In order to be successful at saying “no,” we may need to recruit help from others. Find a close friend or colleague who can provide support and accountability in practicing “no.” Consider delegating some of your “no” practice to someone else. If you have someone who manages your calendar, ask that person to practice “no” based on your “ideal week.”
In my latest free resource, Escape the Overwhelm Checklist, I provide three sample responses you can use in practicing your “no.” Download it here!
So what about you? What are you going to do to practice your “no” this week?
Click here to watch the replay of my FREE Masterclass, Escape the Overwhelm.
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
