Are you a women with ADHD who agrees to do things and feel resentful later ?Can salespeople persuade you to go over budget? Do you “go along to get along” all too often? This happens to everyone occasionally. For a women with ADHD saying no can be a challenge especially if there is not time to breathe in your schedule and ADHD put you behind again. Or if you are tired of being the “save a friend” when a situation goes off the track in your friends lives. So how can you be honest without destroying a friendship or burning business bridge In the real world, the word “No” is received less enthusiastically, so it makes sense to tiptoe lightly when you decline a request. Below are some ways that a women with ADHD can politely say No
“Thanks so much for asking. Unfortunately, I have a full schedule that day (or week or month).”
“Oh, that sounds like a great opportunity for you! I’ll be thinking about you while I (drive out of town) that day.”
“I’m afraid I’ve said ‘yes’ to too many things and now I am forced to say ‘no’ to you. Darn!”
“I’d love to participate, but (registering guests) just isn’t my strong suit. Maybe there’s another opening?” or “Maybe next year?”
“Oh, darn! I wish you’d mentioned this earlier! I just made another appointment for that day. Do you have the date of next year’s event? With enough advance notice, I might be able to help.”
“You know, I have made a firm decision to spend more time with my family in the evenings, so I’m not available for night meetings.”
“Right now, I am (chairing two other committees) and I simply won’t be able to give your project the time it deserves.”
“I’ll check my calendar but I doubt that it will work for me. This year/month/week is absolutely slammed!”
“You know me and my ADHD! I procrastinated on a couple of big projects that are due in the next two weeks and now I have no choice but to focus only on them.”
“I am practicing Extreme Self Care by saying ‘no’ to everything except what I love to do most: (e.g. dancing, football and my dogs).”
“I just read an article on the internet that said saying ‘no’ was a perfectly legitimate answer to requests, so I’m trying it out on you: NO!”
“I am honored that you believe in me so deeply but there are other people in the world who are far better at (editing your poem, taking care of your cat, running the Fun Fair).”
See how easy that was? What’s your most creative way to say “No” without burning bridges?