A really good time management tool is to learn to be cool by saying no to others. It really does give you a lot more power over your time and what you do with it!

In a world that goes way too fast, a lot of us feel pressured to say yes to everything. Yes to social outings, yes to volunteering, yes to helping a friend move, yes to making that project for your sister, yes, yes, yes.

And at the end of the yes’s, there is no time for you.

I’m not saying that you need to say no to everything – or that volunteering is bad, or don’t help your friend move. Do all of those things if you want to and can.

What I want to get across is to say no to the things you don’t want to do, especially if it means giving up something important for yourself.

As a worker, small business owner, mother, wife, friend, family member, etc. if I don’t say no to some things, I’ll never have time to work out for myself.

Or to meal prep, to spend time with my family, or for my mental health.

“We need to learn the slow ‘yes’ and the quick ‘no.”― Tom Friel

I used to say yes to things really quickly. I said yes before I checked my schedule, before I checked with my family and before I even really thought about what I was saying yes too.

This meant I went to many events I didn’t want to go to. I added items to my to-do list that really belonged on someone else’s. Also, I spent a heck of a lot of time away from anything that was important to me.

I was often frustrated and resentful – fighting for more time in a limited 24hr time period.

Now, I say yes really slowly. I ask for time to think about it, to check my schedule. I take time to see if it’s something I can actually help with / do well / find joy in.

It’s empowering to be okay with saying no! And because I know I’m doing it for my health and for my family, I do not feel guilty.

Part of health and fitness is your mental health. It’s time to protect as heavily as you do everything else!

Are you struggling with saying no or have you mastered the power?

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