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One of my toughest challenges is prioritising and developing the ability to say ‘no’ to myself. If you are like me, and have a passion and interest in many things, it can be even harder to say no. When the crunch comes, and for the sake of our own sanity we have to think long and hard about what it is that we really need to be spending time on. Where is it that our time and energy is most effectively spent and where can we reclaim some space back? How do we do this?

Consider who you are, your sense of identity. Am I a professional communicator or a stress management practitioner? I am a firm believer in the route to success being in focusing on the one thing you do well, and doing it well.

Then discover your deep values and stay connected to them. This applies to organisations as much as it does to us as individuals. This then organises and guides behaviours, goals and actions.

Perhaps even more important than this, explore your purpose or mission. Are you here to leave a legacy or to be a beacon for others?

Then put a ruthless commercial perspective on your activities and consider the return on investment that you are getting. This does not have to mean financial investment or reward. If, for example, you are doing some voluntary work and are struggling to find the motivation to honour your promises, think about what’s in it for you. This will help you to focus. If you are getting some good networking relationships from it, it is likely to be quite motivating. But if the exchange is all one way, its probably time to make a quick exit. Just quit. There is honour in that.

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