How and Why to Say “No”

In life, there are more than a million activities in which we could participate. Work, friends, family, our church, hobbies and home maintenance are just a few categories of things filling up our time. Everywhere we look someone or something wants our time and attention. Prioritizing all of these items can be difficult. We may want to say yes because we feel like it’s the right thing to do. But is it the right thing for them or for you? Sometimes we may need to say no to many activities. However, saying no can be difficult. Saying no can seem selfish but when used responsibly, the no can be a powerful tool to enhance your life and the lives of those around us. Here are the benefits of saying no.

Setting boundaries – It is critical we set boundaries in our lives. When people ask for help or want us to contribute to something we don’t want to be involved in, saying no can be difficult but necessary. In doing so, we can set up boundaries for our lives to create a divide between you and that thing you don’t want to be a part of. Remember, no can be a full sentence. Telling someone no does not always need an explanation.
Time management – Saying no to activities can lead to you having less time for other parts of your life. A lot of time can be saved by not getting involved in every task being sent your way.
Self control – Life is full of temptations. We must learn self control. I am sure you all know someone who said yes to too many wrong things in their lives. We have been given a strong mind for discernment. Let us say no to the evil of this world and say yes to the All Mighty.
Prioritization – Saying yes means saying no to something else. Saying no means saying yes to your priorities. We only have so much time in our day. When we say yes to one thing that means we willingly compromise the time we can spend on anything else. You have your list of priorities in life. If your priority is to read or exercise more, using that time to mindlessly scroll on your phone is a misuse of your time. Say no to the things which are pulling you away from your priorities.

If the word no seems too harsh, here is an amazing list from Betterup.com of ways to say no without actually saying no.

Sadly, I have something else going on.
I have another commitment.
I wish I were able to.
I’m afraid I can’t.
I don’t have the bandwidth for that right now.
I’m honored you asked me, but I simply can’t.
Thanks for thinking of me. However, I’m not able to.
I’m sorry, I’m not able to fit this in.
Unfortunately, I already have plans. Maybe next time!
No, thank you, but it sounds lovely.

I am telling you all of this to help you better control your time and attention. While at the same time, prioritizing what aligns with your goals and standards.