In turning down obligations, I also resist the urge to offer a consolation prize that ends up devouring almost as much of my schedule (e.g., “Sorry I can’t join your committee, but I’m happy to take a look at some of your proposals as they come together and offer my thoughts”). A clean break is best.

First, I'll share one of my recent email declines: "This is such a fascinating subject, but I fear I've taken on too many blurb requests in the past few months and gave myself a self-reinforced pause. My apologies"