Not accomplishing something will always be quicker than doing it. This helps me to remember the old PC programming saying, "There is no code quicker than no code."

A similar thought applies in different daily matters of life. For instance, there is no meeting that goes quicker than not having a meeting at all.

This isn't to say you ought to never join another meeting, however truly we express yes to numerous things we would prefer really not to do. There are numerous meetings held that shouldn’t be conducted. There is a great deal of code written that could be erased.

How frequently do people request that you do something and you simply answer, "Sure it will be done." What happens after three days, you're crushed by the amount of work you have for the day simply put, your to-do list seems to be never-ending. We become puzzled by our commitments despite the fact that we were the ones who said yes to them in any case.

It’s important to ask, whether things are actually required? A large number of them are not, and a basic "no" will be more profitable than whatever work the most effective individual can muster.

However, in the event that the advantages of saying no are so self-evident, at that point for what reason do we say yes so often?

Why We Say Yes

We say “yes” to numerous requests or demands not on the grounds that we need to do them, but since we would prefer not to be viewed as selfish, rude, or unhelpful. Frequently, you need to consider saying no to somebody you will connect with again later on—your associate, your partner, your family, and friends.

Saying no to these individuals can be especially troublesome on the grounds that we like them and need to help them. (Also, we frequently need their assistance as well.) Collaborating with others is an imperative component of life. The thought of draining the relationship outweighs the commitment of our time and energy.

Thus, it very well may be useful to be generous in your response. Do whatever favors you can, and be pleasant and direct when you need to state NO.

Be that as it may, even after we have signified these social considerations, many of us still, seem to do a poor job of managing the trade-off between yes and no. We find ourselves over-committed on things that don't definitively improve or strengthen everyone around us, and positively don't improve our very own lives.

Maybe one issue is the manner by which we consider the importance of yes and no.

The Difference Between Yes and No

The words "yes" and "no" get utilized in contrast with one another so frequently that it feels like they convey equivalent load in discussion. In all actuality, they are not just opposite in meaning, but of entirely different magnitudes in commitment.

When you state no, you are just saying no to one option. When you say yes, you are stating no to all other options.

I like how the business analyst Tim Harford put it, " “Every time we say yes to a request, we are also saying no to anything else we might accomplish with the time.” Once you have focused on something, you have officially chosen how that chunk of time will be spent.

At the end of the day, saying no spares you time later on. Saying yes costs you time later on. No is a type of time credit. You hold the capacity to invest your future energy any way you need. Yes, is a type of time debt. You need to pay back your commitment sooner or later.

No is a choice. Yes, is an obligation.

The Role of No

Saying no is sometimes observed as a luxury that just people with significant influence can bear. What's more, it is valid: turning down opportunities is simpler when you can fall back on the security net is given by influence, cash, and expert. In any case, it is likewise obvious that joy of saying no isn't just a benefit reserved for the successful among us. It is additionally a technique that can enable you to end up effective and successful.

Saying no is essential expertise to create at any phase of your profession since it holds the most critical resource throughout everyday life: your time. As the financial specialist Pedro Sorrentino put it, “If you don’t guard your time, people will steal it from you.”

You have to say no to whatever isn't driving you toward your objectives. You have to state no to diversions. As one of the readers of my book Super Productivity Hacks commented, " “If you widen the classification as to how you apply no, it truly is the only productivity hack."

No one represented this thought prior to Steve Jobs, who stated, “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.”

There is an essential balance is required here. Saying no doesn't mean you'll never do anything fascinating or creative or impulsive. It just implies that you state yes in a focused manner.

When you have bashed out the interruptions, it’s good to express yes to an open door that could possibly move you the right way. You may need to attempt numerous things to find what works and what you appreciate. This time of exploration can be especially vital toward the start of a project, job, or career.

Redesigning Your No

After sometimes, as you proceed to improve and succeed, your methodology needs to change.

The opportunity cost of your time increases as you become increasingly effective. At first, you simply kill the obvious distraction and inspect the rest. As your skills improve and you figure out how to isolate what functions from what doesn't, you need to constantly build your edge for saying yes.

Regardless you have to state clear NO to distractions, however, you likewise need to figure out how to state NO to circumstances that were an earlier good use of time, so you can make space for incredible use of time. It's a decent issue to have, yet it tends to be intense expertise to master.

At the end of the day, you need to redesign your "no's" after some time.

Overhauling your no doesn't mean you'll never say yes. It just methods you default to stating no and possibly state yes when it truly makes sense. To cite the investor Brent Beshore, “Saying no is so powerful because it preserves the opportunity to say yes.”

The general pattern is by all accounts something like this: If you can figure out how to state no to awful distraction, at that point, in the end, you'll secure the privilege to state no to great chances.

How to Say No

The greater part of us rush to say yes and too moderate to even think about saying no. It’s worth asking yourself where you fall on that spectrum.

On the off chance that you experience difficulty saying no, you may locate the accompanying system proposed by Tim Harford, the British economist I mentioned earlier, to be helpful. He writes, “One trick is to ask, “If I had to do this today, would I agree to it?” It’s not a bad rule of thumb, since any future commitment, no matter how far away it might be, will eventually become an imminent problem.”

In the event that an opportunity is energizing enough to drop whatever you're doing now, at that point it's a yes. On the off chance that it's not, at that point maybe you should reconsider.

This is like the notable "Hellfire Yeah or No" strategy from Derek Sivers.

In the event that somebody requests that you to do something and your first response is "Hell Yeah!", at that point then do it. If that it doesn't energize you, at that point say no.

It's difficult to ask these questions each time you face a choice, however, it's as yet a valuable exercise to return to every once in a while. Saying no can be troublesome, however usually simpler than the option.

As writer Mike Dariano has pointed out, “It’s easier to avoid commitments than get out of commitments. Saying no keeps you toward the easier end of this spectrum.”

What is valid about wellbeing is additionally valid about productivity: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

The Power of No

More energy is wasted doing things that don't matter then wasted doing things inefficiently. And if that is the case, removal is a more useful skill than optimization.

I am reminded of the famous Peter Drucker quote, “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.”

Do leave a comment below what unnecessary things you are going to NO to.