Every yes costs something. When you agree to one thing, you decline another. Time spent here cannot be spent there. This is not pessimism. It is physics.
Saying no is a skill that protects what matters. Without it, your time fills with other people’s priorities. Your energy goes to their goals. Your attention serves their needs.
No does not require hostility or lengthy explanation. A simple decline is enough. The people who matter will understand. The people who do not understand may not matter as much as you think.
What should you say no to so you can say yes to what matters?