In general, many people have a difficult time learning how to say no. Most of the time, we want to please other people or have others like us.

But when you agree to do everything others ask, you put their feelings before your own. And that can lead to frustration and unhappiness on your part. So, let’s work on it together. It really isn’t that difficult to say no if you don’t’ have the time to do something or you’re not interested.

Here are some ways to say no:

1. NO.
2. I can’t take this on with my present commitments.
3. I must say no, I’m too busy now.
4. I’m in the middle of something else; I don’t have time for that now.
5. I have other commitments, I just checked my calendar.
6. I could not do an adequate job right now, so I must say no.
7. No, I don’t have any spare time.
8. I can’t.
9. You didn’t give me enough notice, so I’m too busy now.
10. Try to find someone else if you can.

There are hundreds of ways to say no without being rude. It requires some time and creative effort, but it is possible to do it without hurting people’s feelings.

Remember that it won’t always go well. There are some people that feel you’re obligated to help them whenever they ask.

In fact, I can remember a friend I had about 20 years ago. She would get angry with me whenever I refused to lend her money. Can you believe that? She actually believed that because I had some extra money and she didn’t that I was obligated to lend it to her.

Notice that I said I “had” a friend. Friends like that don’t last, so don’t worry about offending them.

If you can’t do something for someone else or just don’t want to, you don’t have to. Learn how to say “NO”.