The “Yes Filter”: A Simple Framework to Decide What Deserves Your Energy

Ever feel like your week turns into a never-ending buffet of obligations? Someone offers a “quick coffee chat,” a friend asks for a favor, a client needs “just one more revision,” and before you know it, you’ve loaded your plate so high you can’t even taste your own life.

Saying yes feels polite… until it becomes exhausting. That’s why every multi-passionate professional needs a “Yes Filter.” It’s not about being rigid, it’s about making sure every “yes” gets you closer to alignment, not burnout.

Why Saying Yes Feels So Easy

We say yes for a thousand reasons: we want to help, we don’t want to disappoint, or maybe we just panic in the moment and agree before our brain catches up. (Don’t worry, we’ve all been there.)

But every “yes” costs something. It costs time, energy, attention, and emotional space. If you don’t run your choices through a filter, your schedule starts running you.

The 3-Step “Yes Filter”

Here’s how to pause before saying yes (without feeling like a jerk).

Step 1: Check alignment.
Ask yourself, Does this move me toward what I actually want right now?
If it doesn’t align with your current season, it’s a no, or at least a “not right now.”

Step 2: Check capacity.
Even good opportunities can drain you if your bandwidth is gone. Before agreeing, look at your week. Do you have the time, mental space, or energy to do this well?

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Step 3: Check desire.
You’re allowed to only say yes to what you want to do. Obligation is not a sustainable fuel source.

If it passes all three (alignment, capacity, and desire) it’s a wholehearted yes. If not, it’s an easy no.

My “Almost Said Yes” Moment

A while back, I was invited to a PTO meeting, followed by a casual get-together afterward. I’ll admit, part of me wanted to go. It seemed like a great chance to connect, meet new people, and finally say yes after being asked a few times.

But when I paused to check in with myself, I realized something important: that was my one free evening all week. The rest of my schedule was already packed with weekend plans, and my energy tank was flashing “low battery.”

Running it through my Yes Filter made the choice clear. It was a wonderful opportunity, wrong timing. Saying no that night gave me space to recharge and actually enjoy the plans I already had, instead of running on fumes.

The Power of the Pause

Your value isn’t measured by how much you can juggle. It’s reflected in how intentionally you choose what to hold. When you filter your yeses, you reclaim your focus, and that’s where real alignment begins.

Ready to Strengthen Your “Yes Filter”?

✨ Book a Clarity & Strategy Call to design your personalized decision-making framework.
✨ Or check out my on-demand course library for tools to help you protect your energy, create balance, and move from overwhelmed to aligned.

Because saying no isn’t rejection, it’s redirection toward what actually matters. 🌱