There are so many hours in a day and only so many days in a week to get everything accomplished including your exercise routine. There is nothing wrong with telling a friend or family member, “No, sorry, I really cannot pick up Johnny today.” To be able to reach your goals, focusing on yourself is the only way to make this happen.
Life coaches can help individuals who have the need to say yes to anyone who asks for help. Is there a rule that states just because your spouse or co-worker asks you to do them a “favor” says you MUST? According to many life coaches, this type of individual feels they need to make excuses and explain why they cannot help out a person, so it just becomes easier to say yes.
For fitness goals to occur, the same must happen. When you are about to go for a walk as part of your daily exercise routine and the phone rings from a neighbor who asks, “Do you mind running to the store for me to get me a bag of ice?” Instead of saying, “Sure, let me go for you.” Your answer should be, “No, I’m busy right now.” With no explanation or excuse, and then go out for your walk.
Exercise should always be at the top of your list of things to do even if others think it can wait. When you become motivated to exercise, whether it be at 9:00am or 9:00pm, this is your time and no one should change your schedule.
By telling a person yes and helping them, you begin to resent them, especially a spouse. By keeping to your schedule and telling a person no, it eliminates further obligations and allows your mind to rest easy.
Of course there are certain responsibilities and emergencies which cannot be questioned when you answer yes; but for that annoying neighbor who feels you are their “go to” person, or the spouse who never puts back his tools in the place they should be and constantly asks, “Honey, do you know where my hammer is?” Using the answer of no helps teach these people you are busy and there needs do not come first, your needs do.
Before agreeing to anything, asks yourself first the question, “Do I have to do this?” “What are my plans for this evening?” Also, when giving the answer of no, it doesn’t have to be stern or mean, it can be as simple as, “You really don’t want me to baby-sit your kids or they may come back with a few tattoos!”
If by saying no, some people feel you are no tending to their needs, then you are better off without them. Your fitness and life goals should always come first and if family and friends do not feel the same, then let them struggle with their decision because you are now free to take your daily walk as long as you want!