When people say they are overloaded or cannot keep up with their todos, it is usually the result of taking on too much. Most of the time, I advise people that they need to 「Say No」 more often. Being able to 「Say No」 is key to avoiding being overcome by obligations others ask us to take on.
每當人們感到壓力山大或事情總也做不完時，多半是因承受太多造成的。大部分情況下，我會建議他們多嘗試「說不」。能夠「說不」至關重要，可避免被別人要求幫忙的事情壓垮。
There is one exception… when it comes to saying no to yourself.
但也有例外——就是千萬別對自己說不。
When the going gets rough and people start buckling down, they start saying no to themselves first. After all, saying no to others is hard, saying no to yourself is easy.
遭遇困境時，人們首先會屈服，對自己說不。畢竟，拒絕別人很難開口，否定自己可就容易多了。
So, they begin denying themselves the things that keep them alive and energized. Leisure activities, sports, spending time with their family, are often the first things to go.
於是，人們開始否定那些讓自己保持活力四射的事情。首當其衝的便是休閒活動、運動以及與家人共度的時光。
What is Your Hobby?
你的愛好是什麼?
When people ask for advice because they are too busy at work, one of the first things I ask them is, 「What is your hobby?」 To which they respond, 「Are you kidding? I don’t have time for a hobby!」
當人們因為工作繁忙而向我求助時，首先我會問他「你的愛好是什麼?」。結果他們會反問道：「開什麼玩笑，我哪還有時間發展愛好!」
I tell them, 「you don’t have time not to.」 In fact, spending more time on yourself will result in more time and productivity at work.
我告訴他們：「時間有的是啊。」其實，多花點時間在自己身上還能提高時間利用和工作的效率呢。
Huh? How can spending time doing something else result in more time to get your work done? It does. It seems to go against the time management proverb of 「get more done by doing less.」 However, spending time on yourself results in more time and more focus in your other endeavours.
啊?花功夫做別的事情怎麼可能有更多時間做好工作呢?千真萬確。這似乎有違時間管理的諺語「事半功倍」。但是，多花點時間在自己身上確實能多出時間來，使你在其他事情上更加專注。
Finding Productivity in Leisure
休閒出效率
So, how does working out or painting or reading, get more done? (Some people are ready to clip this now and show it to their boss…「You want that report done? I gotta go to the gym, stat!」)
那麼，健身、畫畫或閱讀怎麼會讓工作更有效率呢?(有人要把這段文字拿給老闆看了：「希望我完成報告嗎?那我可得去趟健身館，走啦!」)
People who are running ragged and cannot keep up with their commitments have often neglected themselves. You must keep your body and mind in top shape if you expect to perform at the top of your game.
那些精疲力竭無法完成任務的人，往往都對自己不夠照顧。如果你想混得好，就必須將身心保持在最佳狀態。
Here are just a few of the benefits of having a hobby:
以下是擁有愛好的幾大益處：
1. Energizes You
使你保持活力
A hobby brings you renewed energy and excitement. This will carry over to the rest of your activities.
愛好帶給你全新的能量和激情，讓你在接下來的活動中精力充沛。
2. Provides New Creativity
激發創新思維
I find that when you are doing your hobby it sparks your creativity. You are more likely to have creative breakthroughs. Solutions to problems you are facing will come to you.
我發現，當你做喜歡的事情時，靈感會突然閃現，你很可能取得新的突破。面對的問題也會迎刃而解。
3. Prevents Burnout
避免殫精竭慮
We know that anything, even a machine, doing the same thing over-and-over will eventually burnout. If you do not take a break to refresh yourself, you too will burnout. Interestingly, this is also true in our personal lives. It is equally important for our home relationships to have an individual hobby.
我們都知道，任何東西，哪怕是機器，周而復始地做同一件事情最終也會崩潰。如果你不停下來休息休息，也肯定會垮掉。有趣的是，我們的個人生活也莫不如此。擁有個人愛好對家庭關係至關重要。
4. Personal Growth
個人成長
We all need to keep growing both professionally and personally. I don’t care if your hobby is gardening, weightlifting, or reading, you will grow from it.
我們都需要獲得專業與個人成長。不管你的愛好是園藝、舉重還是閱讀，你都能獲益匪淺。
Remember not to 「Say No」 to yourself. Invest in activities that lead to growth and renewal. Spend more time on yourself and you will have more productivity at work and all areas of your life.
請記住：千萬別對自己「說不」。去參加一些讓自己成長、給自己充電的活動吧，多為自己花點時間，你不僅工作更有效率，生活中的其他方面也能做好呢!
It just works that way.
愛好的作用就是這麼神奇!
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（實習編輯：高奕飛）