Hello Friends,
We covered the importance of saying no and when you should say no. Now it’s time to cover how to say no. It can be challenging to decline an invite from a loved one. You may be scared of upsetting or disappointing someone. The most important thing is your well-being. Anyone who loves and cares about you should understand that. Now, let’s dive into ways to decline an invite or offer this holiday season kindly!
Keep It Simple and Definite: Don’t leave it up for discussion. Make your boundaries clear with a concise but still polite response. Some ways to work this:
- “I am not going to be able to make it; thank you for understanding.”
- “Unfortunately, that doesn’t work for me, but I appreciate the invitation.”
- “Thank you for thinking of me, but I must pass.”
Be Honest About Your Needs: It is okay to be upfront about the fact that you need to prioritize your well-being right now. At the end of the day, if it were your physical health, no one would hesitate to be understanding. Mental health is just as important and should be treated as such.
- “I am trying to prioritize my well-being by keeping my schedule lighter this holiday season, so I cannot attend.”
- “I need to minimize my commitments this year to avoid burnout, but I hope you all have a fantastic time.”
- “A big gathering is too much for me to handle right now. Maybe we can plan a smaller get-together for the new year.”
Offer an Alternative: If you already have a full schedule but still want to make sure you can spend quality time and celebrate with these people, consider a compromise. Maybe you can’t make Christmas Eve work, but a visit in the new year to catch up would still be great!
- “Unfortunately, I can’t make it, but we should definitely plan a time to catch up in the new year!”
- “I already have plans that night, but maybe we can grab a coffee later next week.”
- “I won’t be able to come to dinner, but I would love to drop off a dessert.”
Relinquish Hosting Duties: If hosting feels like it will be too much, that is okay. Consider simply attending over hosting. This time of year, there can be a lot of pressure to be a host straight out of a holiday movie, but it is okay to keep things simple or avoid hosting altogether.
- “I’d love to help out, but for my well-being, I have to pass on hosting this year.”
- “I’d be happy to help you set up or bring a dish, but I cannot take on hosting.”
- “I am not in a place to be able to host right now, but I appreciate the thought.”
Blame Your Schedule: People understand that the holidays are busy. For a simple yet effective response, consider blaming the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
- “I wish I could, but I already have other commitments that day.”
- “My holiday schedule is already very full, so I will unfortunately have to pass.”
- “Thank you so much for inviting me, but my schedule is already overwhelming, so I must miss this one.”
When Dealing with Difficult People: If someone is giving you a hard time for declining their invite, stay strong in the boundaries you have set. Emphasize that as much as you wish you could attend, it is just not possible at this time. Be confident in the decision you are making to prioritize your well-being.
- “As much as I would love to be there, I need to focus on my mental health this holiday season.”
- “My decision is final, and I hope you can understand that.”
- “I am doing what is best for me, and I would appreciate it if you could respect that.”
You have to make the decision that is in your best interest. Yes, some people may be upset by it, but your well-being is much more important than that. Keep those boundaries firm, friends. It is hard, but I applaud your commitment to taking care of yourself.
I have an exciting new segment launching tomorrow, so make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss it.
Until Tomorrow, My Friends!
P.S. I’m proud of you 😉