Read the following passage and answer questions:

The ultimate productivity hack is saying no.

Not doing something will always be faster than doing it. This statement reminds me of the old computer programming saying, “Remember that there is no code faster than no code.” The same philosophy applies in other areas of life

This is not to say you should not do anything , but the truth is that we say yes to many things we don't actually want to do. There is a lot of code written that could be deleted.

We agree to many requests not because we want to do them, but because we don't want to be seen as rude, arrogant, or unhelpful. Often, you have to consider saying no to someone you will interact with again in the future—your co-worker, your spouse, your family and friends.

Saying no to these people can be particularly difficult because we like them and want to support them. Collaborating with others is an important element of life. The thought of straining the relationship outweighs the commitment of our time and energy.

The words “yes” and “no” get used in comparison to each other so often that it feels like they carry equal weight in conversation. In reality, they are not just opposite in meaning, but of entirely different magnitudes in commitment. I like how the economist Tim Harford put it, “Every time we say yes to a request, we are also saying no to anything else we might accomplish with the time.” Once you have committed to something, you have already decided how that future block of time will be spent.

No is a decision. Yes is a responsibility.

Saying no is sometimes seen as a luxury that only those in power can afford. And it is true: turning down opportunities is easier when you can fall back on the safety net provided by power, money, and authority. But it is also true that saying no is not merely a privilege reserved for the successful among us. It is also a strategy that can help you become successful.

What is the overall essence of the passage?

There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.

The correct answer is OPTION 1 - There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.

The passage emphasizes the importance of saying no to tasks that are unnecessary or unproductive. It argues that not doing something is often more efficient than doing it, especially if the task is not valuable. The idea aligns with the quote that doing something efficiently is pointless if the task itself is unnecessary.

The other options do not capture the main message of the passage as accurately as this one.