[This post is part of a series on “Mental models and beliefs: an exercise to identify yours.” If you don’t see a Table of Contents to the left, click here to view the series, where you’ll get more value than reading just this post.]

Do you have too much to do? Are you so busy you never seem to have time for the important things?

Today’s belief is quick to describe, but among the most important in this series.

A model for prioritizing things: You have to say no to a lot of good things to have a great life

This model explains itself. I confess I don’t follow it as well as I’d like to, but at least I know it. It bears repeating:

You have to say no to a lot of good things to have a great life.

It cuts to the chase about your priorities. If you don’t know your values, you can’t choose among different things. The more things of lower priority you say yes to, the worse you make your life.

When I use this belief

I use this belief when I have multiple things to do but not enough time for them all.

What this belief replaces

This belief replaces busy work and low priority things with things you want.

Where this belief leads

This belief leads to a better life than you would have if you didn’t choose by your priorities. It leads to more time to do what you value and higher value in the things you do. It leads you to stop fooling yourself into thinking doing more things improves your life. Everything you do distracts from something else.

• ← A model to free yourself from being categorized
• A model and strategy for getting things done →