A cool guide to saying "No" to an invite. How are your 'no's usually?

I have become better at saying no to things and people (including friends and family) that drain my energy. This isn’t easy, especially if you are a people-pleaser. When I am straightforward and sincere about my needs, I find that no one is offended

we need to choose when to say yes and when to say “Thank-you for asking. I am honored, but not now. My plate is currently full, and until something comes off there is no room for anything else to go on.”

Brief, one-line responses like “I can’t make it but thank you for the invitation” or “Thanks for thinking of me—unfortunately my hands are full with [my company] so I can’t meet right now” are more than adequate.

Saying "no" can be socially difficult since we generally want to be helpful and liked. Here are two tips on saying "No": Be clear about saying "No", but don't provide details about the reasons for refusal; the details may help the requester reframe the request to overcome your objections. When saying "No," do