Tis the season of endless
obligations--shopping, wrapping, baking, decorating--and you still have
to fit in everything else you regularly do. It’s easy to over commit any
time during the year, but especially when the holiday season is in full
swing.
An overcommitted writer usually isn’t
the most productive writer. With little time left in the day to dedicate
to writing, your number of submissions can go down or stop altogether.
Learning to say "no" isn’t easy, but
it is a sure fire way to make sure you don’t overextend yourself this
holiday season.
First Step
The first step in any needed change is
acknowledging the problem. Donna Birk, a trainer, coach, and founder of
People Builders, states learning to say no is a three-stage process. In
the first stage, she says, we have "identified our need to learn to say
‘no’ and make it one of our goals."
She also says this is where we will
identify opportunities from the past where we could have said no, but
didn’t.
But how do you use that knowledge to
manage your time better?
Making Decisions
Consider these things when deciding to
take on something new.
Does this fit in with my goals?
Setting goals is essential for any writer. Staying committed to your
writing goals will help you identify if a project is worth taking
on.
How much is on your calendar?
Carefully examine your calendar when asked to be part of another
project. Find out how much time you will need to commit to this new
project and take a critical look at if you have that time available.
Are you comfortable with this
project? Sometimes the people or the type of work involved might
make you feel uncomfortable working on a project.
Are you the best person for this
project? Identify how much knowledge you have on the subject and if
you are the right person for it.
Now that you have given thought to all
these things, what happens if you have to say no?
Saying "No"
A simple, straight-forward, "No, I
cannot help," is usually the best answer, but it isn’t always easy. You
almost feel like you’re being mean or selfish. While you shouldn’t feel
the need to explain yourself, if you want to say "no" in a gentler way
you can try these ideas from Online Organizing:
"I need to focus on my career
right now." There’s nothing wrong in admitting that your writing is
important to you.
"I don’t have any room in my
calendar." If your plate is full, then it’s full.
"I’m not comfortable with that."
Taking on a project that makes you uncomfortable will add
unnecessary stress to the situation.
"I have no experience with that,"
or "This really is not my strong suit." Admit your limitations up
front. This will allow you to work on things you do well.
The last thing you need to consider is
something that time management expert, Dr. Donald Wetmore has touched
upon. No one but you knows where you are taking your life. If you keep
saying "yes" when you should be saying "no" then people will continue to
take up your time, possibly keeping you from accomplishing what you
really want to do.
Saying "no" and staying focused on
your writing goals will help you make the time to submit this holiday
season, and every day throughout the year.
