Saying "No" is the Greatest Productivity Tip Saying no is the greatest productivity tip. It is always faster to do nothing than to do anything. This reminds me of the old computer programming adage, "Remember that no code is quicker than no code." In other spheres of life, the same idea applies. There is no meeting that goes faster than not holding one at all, for example. This isn't to say you shouldn't go to another meeting, but the truth is that we often say yes to things we don't want to do. Many meetings are held that do not have to be held. A lot of code has been developed that might be removed. When someone ask you to do something, how often do you just say yes? Many requests are accepted not because we want to, but because we don't want to be perceived as impolite, arrogant, or useless. Frequently, you must contemplate saying no to someone with whom you will interact again in the future—a coworker, a spouse, relatives, or friends. It's very tough to say no to these people since we care about them and want to help them. (Not to mention the fact that we frequently require their assistance.) Collaborating with others is a crucial aspect of life. The prospect of straining the connection surpasses our time and energy investment. As a result, being generous in your reaction can be beneficial. Do whatever you can to help others, and be warm and direct when you can. How to say No? Most of us are likely to say yes too quickly and no too slowly. It's worth considering where you fall on the scale. If you find it difficult to say no, the following method offered by Tim Harford, the British economist I mentioned previously, may be useful. "One strategy is to ask yourself, "Would I agree to this if I had to do it today?" he writes. "It's not a bad rule of thumb to follow, because any future obligation, no matter how far away, will ultimately become a pressing issue." It's a yes if an opportunity excites you enough to leave whatever you're doing right now. If it isn't, you might want to reconsider. More time is spent on things that don't matter than on things that are done inefficiently. If that's the case, elimination is a better skill to have than optimization.