Two Simple Rules That Make Saying Yes Harder And Saying No Easier

1. Don’t say yes on the spot.
2. When you do say yes to something, schedule when you’re going to do it in your calendar right away. Book twice as much time as you think it will take to do it right.

Both rules are helpful but the second rule is perhaps more important. Scheduling the work helps you realise that saying yes has a very real cost. By schedule double the time, you’ll avoid over-committing and have the flexibility to take advantage of opportunities that arise.