Don’t be tempted to tell white lies to get out of a situation, where you don’t want to say yes. It will be lots better if you say less while saying no. You don’t owe the reason to others while saying no. Remember, saying no is a normal and healthy part of communication and it’s important to be honest and respectful when declining requests or invitations.

Say no with confidence, otherwise people will start convincing you to say yes. It’s important to remember that saying “no” can be a healthy and necessary part of setting boundaries and prioritizing your time and energy. It’s okay to be assertive and direct while still being respectful and polite.

Here are some examples of the scenarios.

Scenario: A friend or acquaintance ask you for advice or going for coffee

You can say: Thanks I would love you to say yes to your invitation but with my schedule, it is not possible.

Scenario: Someone ask you to go to a social event with them.

You can say: Thanks for asking, I would love to go out with you to the events like this but another time.

or you can say: Thank you so much for the invitation, but I won’t be able to make it this time.

Scenario: Friend ask you for money.

You can say: Sorry but I just don’t mix money with friendship.

Scenario: A sales person tries to sell you something.

you can say: Thank you but I am not interested.

If they persist, say: My answer is no and it is not going to change.

Scenario: Some on shows romantic interest

You can say: My intuition says no.

If they ask why, then say: it’s my gut feeling and I listen to those.

Scenario: An employee ask for promotion

You can say: I don’t see it happening yet, but let’s meet to discuss what will it take to get there.

Scenario: Boss assigns you a task

You can say: I have already enough on my plate, should we re-prioritize what is assigned to me.

Scenario: Someone asks you to take on additional work.

You can say: I appreciate you thinking of me for this project, but I won’t be able to take it on right now.

Scenario: Someone ask you to accept a social media request

You can say: Thank you for the following request, but I won’t be accepting it at this time.

Scenario: You are offered a job

You can say: Thank you for offering me the position, but I have decided to decline it.

Scenario: Child ask for device during dinner

You can say: I understand that you want to use your device, but during dinner time we put them away and focus on spending quality time together.

Scenario: Child asks to invite friend for sleepover

You can say: I appreciate you wanting to have your friend over, but this time we won’t be able to have a sleepover. Maybe we can plan for another time.

Scenario: Child asks to break a rule

You can say: I understand you want to do that, but it is against the rules and it is not safe. Let’s find a different activity that we can do together.

Scenario: Child asks to buy a toy or a treat

You can say: I understand you really want that top/treat, but we can’t get it right now. Maybe we can save up for it or find a different treat that’s a bit healthier.