Are you the kind of person who is always nice to people? Are you constantly trying to please everyone around you? Do you most likely say yes to everything that you are asked to do? Well, you aren't the only one. There are so many of us who have a difficult time turning someone down thinking it wouldn't be right or it would hurt other people.

Saying no is an art. It is simple yet artsy. There will always be a person around you who would want to get things sorted, meetings fixed, favours done, or something else that is not important to you at all. You just have to say the magic word 'NO'. And yes, it is that simple!

When you are asked to do something which doesn't interest you or you just don't want to get it on your hands you can use a few tricks so you don't sound rude. And you also effectively say that you can't do the job. Whenever in such a situation, the first and foremost thing to do is to listen to the person making the request patiently so they don't feel you never wanted to say yes in the first place. Think about how it is or isn't important to you. The easiest way out would be to say "No, I'm sorry but I can't do this". If you don't want to be direct and still need to refuse, try telling them about a prior commitment that you have and how you cannot spare time! If you get a sudden request for a favour, try, "I'm currently in the middle of something, I don't think I have that kind of time. How about sometime later?" Easy, isn't it?

Saying no has its perks too! If you are not burdened with unnecessary obligations, you can actually find time to do things you always wanted to try. It cuts out the added stress that could have been. Just because you have always helped your friend plan his friends' birthdays doesn't mean you are obligated to do it every time. You can always get away by saying, "I would love to but....". Finish the sentence with a believable yet strong reason so you won't be pushed into helping him.

Saying not might not be the easiest task but it sure will let you have the kind of stress free time you always wanted. It takes away the possibility of being over committed and having too much on your plate at once! So, the next time you are about to be dragged into something even remotely unnecessary, just say NO!