Day 6: Learn to Say No

6. Learn to say no. This is actually one of the key habits for those trying to simplify their lives. If you can’t say no, you will take on too much.

Saying “No.” Ah, where to begin?

Challenging as the two-letter word has been for me, to continue not saying it would result in harm to my person. I have, for too long, said “Yes” to every request made of me. Can you help with this? Would you lead that? Can you pick up such- and- such? Do you have time to do that? “Yes” has been the common answer to these inescapable questions.

No longer!

Saying “No” doesn’t mean you aren’t doing anything any more; it simply means you are focusing your efforts on the few things to which you are saying “Yes.” In short, you are then able to do a few things very well instead of a lot of things really crappy. Saying “No” to busyness is step in the way of saying “Yes” to living a healthy and enjoyable life.

Can I really hep anyone if I am too exhausted from trying to fix all the little problems?… or by doing all the things that really don’t matter that much?

I will ask myself, “Self, Does the question I am being asked to say ‘Yes’ to fall within my Top 5 list from day one?” If not, I really should think about dropping the “No” bomb.