With finals season rapidly approaching, we often find ourselves stretched thin between social, academic, and personal responsibilities. It is easy to become overwhelmed, so we must prioritize certain duties over others. In other words, if your friend is begging you to go to a party on Wednesday night before an exam, here’s how to say no.
Generally, we prioritize goals that have an approaching deadline or that meet the needs of others. This can lead to less time being spent on important tasks, and more energy spent keeping “busy.” To stop spending time on unnecessary tasks, we can implement prioritization strategies. One strategy is to have a master list with every task, from doing your laundry to writing a research paper. Writing down every goal can help you organize which goal is more important than another, and thus makes it easier to decide which tasks to prioritize. It is also effective to categorize each task based on importance and urgency. If a task is urgent and important, it should be done first. If a task is important but not urgent, you should schedule a time to complete this task. If a task is urgent but not important, try to delegate the task. If it cannot be delegated, complete the task immediately in as little time as possible. Lastly, if a task is not important or urgent, remove it from your list altogether.
Besides our priorities, unexpected events can occur that are time-consuming. Whether it be a friend asking to grab dinner or assisting a club in setting up an event, it can be difficult to say no. It is easy to have the urge to please people or feel guilty saying no, but time is the most valuable resource. Steve Jobs once said, “It’s only by saying no that you can concentrate on the things that are really important.” By saying yes to everything asked of you, the responsibilities can add up and create additional stress, clouding which tasks are truly important.
One way to say no in a polite way is to respond with, “No, not yet.” With this approach, you are insinuating that you will complete the request when you have free time, without directly saying no. Another way is by stating, “Let me check my calendar.” This does not sound aggressive yet shows that you are attempting to find space for the task. Based on what your (hopefully organized) calendar shows, you are able to say yes or no. A third way to address an untimely request is by responding, “I can take care of that task for you but I also have this other task. Which is more important to you right now?” This response is mainly applicable when speaking to someone in a position of authority, presumably higher than yours. The response highlights your hard work and priorities, often eliciting understanding from the other person. Other ways to say no include, “This week won’t be possible, but we can consider it for next week,” or “I can help you with this once you’ve done that.” You can also offer to find someone else to do a certain task. All in all, it is important to prioritize your mental health and responsibilities, without worrying about those of others. By effectively mapping out what needs to be done, you can prevent burnout and manage your commitments during finals season.
