Are you constantly saying yes to things that drain your energy and derail your priorities? In this episode of Thrive In Five, I'll show you how. Saying no isn't just about boundaries. It's about protecting your productivity and creating space for what actually matters.

Welcome back to Thrive in Five, where I give you a quick burst of motivation and productivity in five minutes or less. I'm Cindy, your host, a self-made entrepreneur, busy mom, and a business coach. I've built and sold several digital businesses ranging from five to six figure successes. So when it comes to managing time and priorities in both life and work, I get it. I've been there and I am here to help you thrive.

Let's talk about something that's costing you more than you realize. It's overcommitting the truth is every yes to something that doesn't serve you is a no to something else. When you're overcommitted, you're not just busy, you are scattered. You are giving partial attention to everything instead of full focus to what moves the needle. I see this all the time with the women that I coach. They say yes to every networking event, every collaboration, request, every favor, thinking they're building a business. But really they're building overwhelm. Overwhelm is the enemy of productivity. So how do we break this cycle? How do you want to protect your productivity without burning bridges or feeling like you're missing out? Here are three strategies that will change everything. The first one is to get clear on your non-negotiables. Before you can say no to the wrong things, you need to know what the right things are. What are three to five activities that directly move your business and life forward? Maybe it's content creation, client work, and family time. When you know your non-negotiables, every request gets filtered through this lens. Does this support my priorities? Or distract from them. The second one is to create your default. No script. Most people overcommit because they don't know how to say no gracefully. Here's what you need, a go-to response. That's kind, but firm. Something like, thank you for thinking of me, but I'm not able to take this on right now. That's it. You don't need to explain, justify, or apologize. You don't owe anyone a detailed explanation of your priorities. And having this script ready eliminates the panic of making decisions on the spot. The third one is to implement a 24 hour rule. When someone asks you to commit to something, especially if it's not urgent, say, let me check my calendar and get back to you. This gives you some time to think clearly. Instead of reacting from a people pleasing mode during those 24 hours, ask yourself if I say yes to this. What am I saying no to? If the answer is something more important than you have your decision, this works because saying no to the wrong things gives you capacity to say yes to the right ones. It's not about being selfish, it's about being strategic. So when you protect your time and energy. You show up for better commitments that matter. If you wanna implement this today, here are your action steps. List three to five non-negotiables, the activities that truly move the needle forward. Starting write out your default. No script and practice saying it until it feels natural. Finally, commit to that 24 hour rule for any new requests that come your way this week. And remember, productivity isn't about doing more. It's about doing what matters and sometimes protecting what matters means saying no to what doesn't. You've got this.

Thanks for tuning into the Thrive in Five podcast. If you found value in today's episode, I'd love for you to leave a review. It helps more listeners discover the show and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss a dose of productivity, motivation, and success tips. And hey, share this episode with a friend that could use a little extra inspiration. Until next time, keep thriving. And remember, you've got this.