The Yes/No Book

CHAPTER 7

Say ‘NO’ for now

So far, we have said almost nothing about timing. But when you do something can matter a lot, so this chapter is about when to say ‘YES, now’ and when to say ‘NO, not now’. It is also about how to use the time constructively, when you put things off and procrastinate with a purpose.

Time-critical and time-charmed activities

The term ‘time management’ is a misnomer: you cannot manage time. It isn’t possible. All that you can do is manage how you use the time you have available to you (I give you many, many, strategies and tools in one of my earlier books, Brilliant Time Management).

With some activities, you have no discretion about how you use your time – you must do them now. If you don’t, you will either not be ...