Last year I really became protective of my time.  I think everyone should be protective of their time – it’s the only thing in life we can’t get back!  I’m a huge podcast person, and one of my favorites is the Tim Ferriss Show.  One concept that Tim and his podcast guest, Derick Sivers, discussed in an older episode (I just listened last year), is the “Is it a HELL YEAH?!” test.

Is It A HELL YEAH?!

Here’s how the test works … Everyday I’m inundated with emails asking me to commit to different activities, mostly afterwork happy hours, dinners, and networking events.  I highly value my post-office-hours since it’s the time of day that I like to squeeze in a workout, spend time with Michael, work on this site, and work on my contracts business.

Instead of feeling guilty for saying no or ultimately saying yes simply out of guilt to the commitment(s), I first ask myself, is it a HELL YEAH?!  Like, do I REALLY want to go to the happy hour, dinner, or networking event?  If the answer is no, then that’s it, I say no.

The more I went through this exercise, the easier it became to identify where I really wanted to spend my time (and who I wanted to spend it with).  I think it’s really easy to overcommit ourselves, which ultimately leads to more stress and less time spent on things we actually enjoy doing.

I challenge you to implement this test even for just one week.  Be strict about it, it’s either a HELL YEAH or no.  It’s that simple.  Once you try it out, let me know what you think!  Shoot me an email, DM me on Instagram, or leave a comment below!  If you’re interested in listening to Tim’s full podcast on the topic, check it out here.

Outfit Details

On a completely unrelated note, although I suppose the “Is It a Hell Yeah?!” test could be applied to shopping too, let’s chat a bit about this look!

I’m IN LOVE with this easy sweater!  And perhaps the best part … it’s only $20!  Yep, you read that right.  It’s available in a few different colors.  It’s a one-size-fits-all, but the sleeves have an elastic feature, which keeps them from being too long.  It’s super cozy and not itchy at all!

I paired it with new Levi’s I picked up at the same time as the sweater.  I have them in the lighter shade too, but I love the dark wash!  They’re under $100 and are true bluejeans.  Hardly any stretch to them so be sure to grab your normal denim size.

Amazon Fashion Sweater c/o | Levi’s Denim c/o | Dolce Vita Booties | Quay Sunglasses