20 Ways to Say No

First off I have to say that I dedicate today's post to my friend Jennifer McChesney!!! She will know and understand why. We at times both need to learn 20 Ways to Say No and because of this she also knows why we are such great friends and understand each other so well! Thanks for always being such a great friend!

Today is one of those days where I need to take my own advice! I have a lot going on in my life right now and I am working on finding balance. In my last post, I talked about taking time out for yourself and how vacationing really does revive you. I stand by that post, but am having one of those days where life just comes at you and you have to deal.

But what I know is that some of my having to just deal with life is of my own doing! I tend to think (as most people do) that I am capable of doing more than can actually fit into the waking hours of one day. So I found a list that I feel we call all learn from, even me the Professional Organizer! This list is from a great book - Organizing Plain and Simple by Donna Smallin and the list in the book is from Ramona Creel of Organizng Online.

20 Ways to Say No:

1. I can't right now, but I can do it later.
2. I'm really not the most qualified person for the job.
3. I just don't have any room in my calendar right now.
4. I can't but let me give you the name of someone who can.
5. I have another commitment.
6. I am in the middle of several projects and can't spare the time.
7. I've had a few things come up and I need to deal with those first.
8. I would rather decline than do a mediocre job.
9. I'm focusing more on my personal and family life right now.
10. I'm focusing more on my career right now.
11. I'm don't really enjoy that kind of work.
12. I can't but I am happy to help out with another task.
13. I've learned in the past that this isn't my strong suit.
14. I'm sure you will do a wonderful job on your own.
15. I don't have any experience with that, so I can not help you.
16. I'm not comfortable with that.
17. I hate to split my attention among too many projects.
18. I'm committed to leaving some time for myself in my schedule.
19. I'm currently not taking on any new projects.
20. No.

And if these great "excuses" don't work, then the person you are dealing with may also suffer from too many committments not enough time! The important thing to remember is that you need to do what is best for you and your family and not what is best for everyone else. You can not be at your best if you are at someone elses best. So go out today and liberate yourself by telling someone no thanks, and not feeling guity about it!

Vacation & My Organization Lesson Learned

Having just returned from a vacation to Cancun Mexico, I am happy to say that I am not only relaxed but revived!! For the last year, I have been going, going, going and had not really taken any time for myself. I have always been a busy person and someone who just keeps chugging along trying to get everything done. But the lesson I learned on this vacation is that you need time out so that you can be productive!!!



On my first day of vacation, I actually took my blackberry to the beach with me! I know, what was I thinking? But as I was there longer I eventually forgot that I even had it with me and used this great concept of a watch to see what time it was. After, another day or two I thought who cares what time it is and left the watch in the room also!!



As I sat on the beach soaking up the sun, I realized that in the last month the only thing that I had accomplished was getting my client moved out of one house and into another. Not that this was not a feat in and of itself. But, I had not accomplished one thing that I had on my own list of goals and action items. I had been pushing myself so hard for so long, that I let an entire month of productivity disappear into thin air by not taking time out for myself.



We don't always have the option of sitting on the beach but we do always have the option of taking a time out and enjoying the life we have around us! So, thinking about it now I guess I actually learned several lessons on vacation. 1 - I am human and need a break!! 2 - Even as an organizer, I am human and can not always have it together 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year! & 3 - Make time for your self! By doing this you will accomplish more in a couple of hours than you can in an entire month of non-stop working!! So go out and relax a little everyday!