Reclaiming Your Time: Tips for Saying No and Setting Boundaries
Do you often find yourself overwhelmed by the demands of your professional and personal life? With only 24 hours in a day, it’s easy to feel like you’re trying to do too much. As someone who once juggled multiple businesses and hectic physician hours, I understand how it feels to be constantly spread thin.
Eventually, I realized that in trying to say ‘yes’ to everything, I was actually sacrificing the quality of my work and neglecting what truly matters to me: my friends and family. It was time for a change. I needed to learn how to prioritize, delegate, and set boundaries in order to reclaim my time and energy without feeling guilty.
Understanding the Value of Your Time
In the words of M. Scott Peck, author of The Road Less Traveled, “Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. And until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.” This resonates deeply with me, as time is a precious resource that once spent, cannot be regained.
Learning to say ‘no’ is a crucial part of valuing your time. While it can be difficult—especially for those of us who tend to say ‘yes’ to everything—saying ‘no’ allows us to prioritize our most important tasks and responsibilities.
Freedom to Choose
By carefully selecting our commitments, we regain the freedom to focus on what truly matters. Saying ‘yes’ to one thing often means saying ‘no’ to others. It’s about making conscious choices that align with our goals and values, rather than feeling obligated to please everyone.
Setting boundaries is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance, especially for busy professionals like physicians. By clearly defining our limits and priorities, we protect our time and energy from being drained by unnecessary commitments.
How to Politely Say “No”
Saying ‘no’ doesn’t have to be rude or selfish. In fact, it’s a necessary skill for protecting your time and energy. Here are some simple strategies for saying ‘no’ politely:
- Express gratitude for the offer
- Be clear and concise in your response
- Provide a brief reason for declining
- Offer an alternative solution if possible
- Leave the door open for future opportunities
- Set and reinforce boundaries as needed
- Give a positive ‘no’ by sandwiching your response between positives
- Decline with empathy to show understanding
Reinforcing Boundaries
For physicians, setting boundaries is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. By establishing clear work hours, delegating tasks, and prioritizing self-care, you can ensure that your time is spent on what truly matters.
Setting boundaries is not selfish—it’s an act of self-respect that allows you to grow personally and professionally. Regularly review and adjust your boundaries to ensure they align with your evolving needs and priorities.
Saying “Yes” to Yourself
Remember, prioritizing your time is not selfish. By saying ‘yes’ to yourself and your goals, you are setting yourself up for success and fulfillment. Practice saying ‘no’ to unnecessary commitments that don’t align with your priorities, and watch as your time and energy are better managed.
Reclaiming your time is a journey, but by setting boundaries, learning to say ‘no,’ and prioritizing what truly matters, you can take control of your life and achieve your goals. Start by valuing your time, and the rest will follow.
Dr. Peter Kim is the founder of Passive Income MD and the creator of Passive Real Estate Academy. Join Dr. Kim’s community of like-minded professionals in the Passive Income Doc Facebook Group.