31 Important Things You Should Say ‘No’ to for a Happier Life

And how to do it

Danny Forest
Forge

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An illustration of a man taking notes, with a flow chart of “Things to Say ‘No’ to” superimposed on top of the man.
Illustrations: Danny Forest. Click for interactive version.

AAntoine de Saint-Exupéry, the aviator and author of The Little Prince, said: “Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”

I’d say the same is true of happiness. I’m a happy man not only for the things I do, but also for the things I don’t do. In 2019, I set out to say “no” more frequently so I could focus my time on the things that mattered to me and the people I care for. It was the happiest year of my life so far.

I’ve created a list of what you can say “no” to, and how to do it. This guide is comprehensive, and not everything will apply to you. Because of that, I’m including a table of contents so you can jump to the things that may be relevant to your life. Read them, and start taking your life back into your hands.

*See Appendix A at the bottom for visual representations.

Table of Contents

*Feel free to highlight those you agree with or those you want to work on.

Personality
1. Procrastination
2. Negative self-talk
3. Perfection
4. Excuses
5. Comparing to others
Health
6. The snooze button
7. Partying every night
8. Stimulants before bed
9. Food with no…

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