Time Management Techniques - How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty

One of the Best Time Management Techniques

A person can implement is to just say "No." Unfortunately, one of the hardest things for a person to do is...you guessed it... just say "No." One of the biggest reasons is because, in many people, that word conjures up nearly unmanageable feelings of guilt.

If you fall into that category then this article was written for you with the express purpose of simplifying your life, improving your life, and reclaiming some of the time appropriated from you by people who know you as a person who can't say that two letter word.

When you finish this article you will have learned how to say "No" without feeling guilty.

First, Think About Guilt

It's simply the feeling that you are declining to do something you feel you should do. But why do you feel you should do the task? Is it because no one else can/will do it? Is it because you are one of those people who feel you should do everything that's asked of you? Really think about this. Search deep for the reason you feel the need to say "Yes" to things you don't want to do.

Second, Realize What That Yes Means

And that you only have so much time in a day. Therefore, a "Yes" here means an automatic "No" somewhere else. Will that be aimed at your spouse or child? That should give you incentive to learn to say "No" to someone else.

In the beginning when you're trying to get away from agreeing to do things you don't want to do purposely plan something with your spouse or child for the exact same time that someone wants you to do whatever it is you'd like to say "No" to and eventually it will be easier for that word to spring forth from your mouth.

For instance, say a friend asks you to do something on Thursday night at 8 pm. Immediately think of something else you'd like to do with someone else you'd like to do it with and then make the mental plan to do that thing. An example may be read a bedtime story to your child. If you'd really rather be reading to your child at that time then you just made the time to do that.

Another great way to make it easier to say "No" is to have someone...say, a friend...who is pretty much always available for...oh, we'll say coffee and chatting. Have this agreement that whenever someone asks you to do something you don't want to do she'll meet you for coffee. Now you should have no problem saying "No" because there's something you'd really rather be doing.

Are you ready to begin managing your time better? Download my free ebook about Time Management for some wonderful ideas.