There will always be someone out there who’s going to ask you to do something you don’t have time to do. In an effort to please everyone, you may say yes. While this is honorable, it is also a recipe for increasing your stress and falling short of completing any obligation well.

Besides, you really don’t want to say yes, so, why feel pressured?  All might be better served if you just say no.  If you find it hard to say no to people, try this:

Don’t say anything when you’re on the spot. Take some time to think it over and if you can’t say no, excuse yourself and say you have to go to the bathroom.  By the time you get back, the question may have been forgotten anyway.  Plus, an extra tinkle here and there is good for everyone.

Be direct. Tell the truth about why you can’t do what’s asked of you. There’s no need to make up what might be deemed a better reason.  Practice this in the mirror, however, because you don’t want to have that expression of anger that often times accompanies the truth.

Be polite, but firm. Don’t build false hope about what you can do. Don’t say, “I’ll try.” You’ll just worry about squeezing the request into your schedule or how you’re going to say in the end that you didn’t get it done.  Whatever you commit to, stick to it.  So, if you do wuss out and say you’ll think about it; think about for a split second then say no.

Suggest alternatives. Perhaps you know of someone who has the time or is better suited to fulfill the request. Or perhaps you yourself will have time in the future. If so, try saying, “Marni may be the better person to ask for that – she doesn’t have a life anyway” or “Bob only has a few friends on Facebook, why don’t you give him a call?”