Free decision tool
Should I Say Yes? A Decision-Making Tool for Educators
Educators are asked for a great deal: an extra shift, a committee, a room change, a course, a favour for a colleague, one more thing for a family. Many of those requests are worthwhile, and saying yes to all of them is rarely possible.
This free tool creates a pause between the request and your answer. It is a private space to think about what a particular yes would really ask of you, and what you would need for it to work.
What this tool helps you consider
You are guided through your own clarity about the request, how well it fits your values and priorities, the capacity and recovery time you genuinely have right now, the impact on the people around you and the support you would be given, and the boundaries or conditions that would make a yes workable. The reflection belongs to you: the tool does not decide anything and never tells you what your answer should be.
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How it works
The reflection takes about three minutes and happens entirely in your own browser. You can name the decision if you wish, though there is no need to, and nothing you type or choose is saved or sent anywhere.
- 1. Set the scene. Choose the kind of request you are weighing up, and optionally give it a short label so the wording reads naturally.
- 2. Respond to twelve statements. One at a time, you choose Not at all, A little, Mostly or Completely. You can go back and change any answer before you finish.
- 3. Read your reflection. You see a considered reflection, a calm summary of the five areas, up to two areas worth attention, and space to record your decision for now — including any conditions you would want. You can download or print it.
Why pausing before you answer matters
Saying yes quickly is often about goodwill, professional pride or not wanting to let people down, rather than a lack of judgement. Yet commitments accumulate quietly, and the cost usually lands on rest, planning time and relationships. Workload is shaped by rosters, funding, leadership and workplace culture, not by individual willpower alone — but having language for your capacity and your conditions makes it easier to negotiate honestly and to sustain the work you care about.
Where to go next
This tool supports personal reflection. It does not provide legal, employment, industrial-relations, financial, medical or psychological advice, and it cannot determine what you are required or entitled to do. Consider your circumstances, relevant policies and professional advice where appropriate.