The following advice comes from Sandy Maynard in the Spring 2008 edition of ADDitude Magazine - but it could just as well apply to those without ADHD. Sandy had eight points - but this was the one that I hadn't read elsewhere.
"Practice saying no to the easy stuff. A good start would be telling telephone solicitors that you don't want to be called anymore. Work your way up to saying no - civilly, of course - to your husband or to your boss."
[Yes, the better answer to telemarketers, if you live in the USA, is to get on the Do Not Call Registry - but the point is still well made about moving from the easy to the hard.]
Related Posts:
Yet Again: Learning to Say No
The Importance of Saying No: Two Perspectives
The Importance of Making Decisions
Learning to Say No
Miss Manners: How to Say No
You make a really good point about saying "no". We get into the habit of trying to please everyone and in turn end up doing a lot of tasks we don't really need to do.
ReplyDeleteNick, good point about saying yes in order to please others. I just listened to a tape about "people pleasers," and difficulty in saying no is certainly a characteristic of people pleasers. Here's some reading on the subject of people pleasers.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for commenting - that got me to your blog, and to the 8 Principles of Fun. Good stuff!