Today's post covers a subject that can make you feel more in control of your time and actions … Executed correctly, it can potentially have an enormously positive impact on every area of your life.
It's the importance of why you should say NO more often. Especially noteworthy is nixing on something you are not wholeheartedly enthusiastic about doing! Taking the subject a bit further, we should only say YES to the things that align with our identity and what we stand for!
For example, let's say your schedule is so typically jam-packed with activities and responsibilities that you often wonder how you'll ever accomplish it all. In this case, you may feel like you've lost control over your life. You're at the mercy of others and the situations you find yourself in. That feeling, all by itself, is an important reason to get back in the driver's seat!
More so because this loss of control can hold a negative influence over your health and wellness. That's because overcommitting yourself eventually leads to feelings of overwhelm, stress, and exhaustion. In some cases, it can also take a toll on your financial health!
Sooner or later, you're half-assing your way through practically EVERYTHING on your to-do list – and that can cause the quality of your life to take a nosedive! To compensate, you might decide to forego your own self-care regimen, but only because you feel you can't otherwise catch up on everything else you've got going on in your life. Does this sound familiar?
However, suppose you can manage to limit your responsibilities to the things you truly value and are excited about. In that case, you actively improve the level of quality and enjoyment of your life.
One way of starting this process is to determine what your priorities are.
Are they to build better relationships, care for your family, improve your health, or advance your career? Although all of these goals hold tremendous benefits for you, attempting to achieve the entire list simultaneously can prove detrimental. This isn't to imply that you should disregard the other ambitions remaining on your list. But ranking them by priority allows you to see how they might build upon one another to create forward momentum. The compounding effect can eventually help you reach all of your goals with greater ease and enjoyment.
Once your "priority" list is set, it will be easier to say YES to the responsibilities that align with it … And much more comfortable to say NO to those energy-draining things that don't support your topmost priority.
A prime example of this could be your role as a parent or caregiver. This "priority" does NOT exclude your career or health activities, because providing for those in your care, and being physically healthy are tools that should be factored into the equation.
But how will you know when saying NO is the right thing to do?
First, trust your instincts. If your gut senses dread at the idea of taking on this new responsibility, you're plausibly better off without it! And don't leave room for interpretation. Like ripping off a bandaid, use definitive words, instead of a vague excuse or apology. This will help if you're the type of person that finds it extremely difficult to actually SAY the word "NO."
Some definitive examples are: "I don't have time to bake muffins for the bake sale." "I don't hang out for 'Happy-Hour' during the week." "Friday nights are family time." "I'm in the park exercising every morning."
Get the picture? You use language that people are more apt to understand. This assures you've drawn a clear line you aren't willing to cross, which means you get less push-back when you say no.
Remember, aside from your health, your time is your next most precious asset.
The hours spent never return to you. So, be sure you are appropriately allocating your time on the things you want to do and that promote the kind of life you want to live. Doing so is one of the best ways you can take care of yourself!
