Ruthless Prioritization and the Art of Saying No

Making time by learning to proactively choose what you do

We are asked to do things perhaps a dozen times a day—sometimes through email, sometimes through text, sometimes over the phone. We are constantly making decisions. This decision fatigue makes it hard for us to give a simple yes or no answer.

In order to have a productive and meaningful life, learning to say no is one of the most important skills you can develop. Knowing what you want to invest in and what you don't want to invest in requires forethought and introspection. It is best determined in advance, rather than on the fly. 

For everyone feeling overwhelmed and inundated with requests, this is the guide for you. By following these principles and learning how to ruthlessly prioritize, you can make more space in your life for what’s important to you. 

When you receive a request, the first step is to decide whether:

• The answer is “yes”. 

• The answer is “maybe”. 

• The answer is “not now, but later”. 

• The answer is “no”. 

Limit yourself to “yes” or “no” whenever possible.