How The Ultimate Productivity Hack Is Saying NO

 

Source: LinkedIn

The ultimate productivity hack is saying no.

How frequently do you simply say, "Sure thing," when someone asks you to do something? Two days later, you're overwhelmed by the amount of work on your to-do list. Even though we agree to our commitments in the first place, we eventually get annoyed by them.

Many of the things we do are not necessary and a simple "no" would be more effective than any amount of work even the most efficient person could conjure.

But why do we say yes so frequently if the advantages of saying no are so clear?

Many times, we comply with demands not because we want to but rather because we don't want to come across as unkind, haughty, or useless. You frequently ponder over saying no to people you'll interact with again in the future, including your spouse, your family, and your friends.

It can be particularly tough to say no to these folks since we care about them and want to help them. (Not to mention, we frequently require their assistance.) Working together with others is an essential part of life. The prospect of putting the relationship through stress outweighs the time and effort commitment.

Because of this reason, it may be advantageous to respond graciously. Do whatever favors you can, and be kind and direct when you have to say no.

But even after doing this, we discover that we are overcommitted to activities that hardly ever benefit or support those around us, let alone enhance our own lives.

Maybe one of the problems is the way we interpret what yes and no imply.

Because they are contrasted with one another so frequently, "yes" and "no" seem to have equal importance in speech. In truth, they have very distinct commitment levels and have entirely opposing meanings.

When you say no to an option, you are simply rejecting that one. Saying "yes" means rejecting all other possibilities and committing to that one option.

And When you commit to something, you have already made your plans for how you will use that time in the future.

Saying no, in other words, allows you to save time in the future. On the other hand, you will lose time in the future by saying yes. The word "no" is a time credit. You can continue to use the rest of your time however you like. "Yes" is a sort of time debt. You will eventually have to fulfill your obligation.

No is a choice. Ye is a duty.

Sometimes people think that saying no is a luxury that only powerful people can afford. And it's even true. But it's also true that saying no is not just a right reserved for those of us who are successful. It is a tactic that can also aid in your success.

At any point in your work, learning to say no is crucial because it preserves your time, which is your most valuable resource.

Saying no to anything that isn't helping you reach your objectives is necessary. You must refuse distractions. If you enlarge the meaning of "productivity hack," then, yes, saying no is the only one (as you ultimately say no to any distraction to be productive).

This idea was best exemplified by Steve Jobs who once said, “People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully.”

Here, a crucial balance must be struck. Saying no to something doesn't mean you'll never do something fascinating, original, or impromptu. Simply said, it means that you say yes in a targeted manner. It can make sense to say yes to every chance that could be able to steer you in the right direction once you have eliminated the distractions.

According to the general tendency, if you can master the art of saying "no" to poor diversions, you'll eventually get the right to say "no" to good opportunities.

Most of us probably say yes too quickly and no too slowly. Where you fall on the spectrum is something you should consider.

The answer is yes if the opportunity excites you enough to stop what you're doing right now. If it's not, you might want to give it some second thought.

This is fairly similar to Derek Sivers' well-known "Hell Yeah or No" strategy. When someone asks you to do something and your initial response is "Hell Yeah!", then go ahead and do it. Say no if it doesn't excite you.

Even though it's impossible to remember to ask yourself these questions every time you have to make a choice, it's a helpful exercise to come back to occasionally. Although it can be challenging, saying no is frequently preferable to the alternative. It's easier to avoid commitments than get out of commitments, as author Mike Dariano has noted. Saying no keeps you toward the easier end of this spectrum.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, which is true for health and even for productivity!

Conclusion 

More time and energy is lost doing things that are pointless than is lost doing things ineffectively. If this is the case, then the ability to eliminate is more beneficial than the ability to optimize.

Anshika Bansal