Let’s get right into it; the holidays are here and for a lot of us cit can e a stressful time or a lot of reasons, but this time of the year can be especially mentally taxing because we may feel obligated to see certain family members that just aren’t supportive or are just plain exhausting to be around. Well, we’re here to tell you that for one, you are not obligated to spend your time with these family members. And two, we’ve come up with a few ways you can politely decline an invitation that involves being around the people in your life like this. We’re here for you. Let’s take a look.
Don’t ignore the invitation. Especially when it’s family that you know will always be there to remind you, it’s best to not avoid this sometimes difficult conversation. While it may seem like something that will simply go away with time, we’re here to tell you it won’t. Start thinking about how you would like to execute this conversation, and once you know what you want to say and how you can confidently say it, do so, and don’t wait until the last minute.
Be up front and honest. Okay, we don’t mean you need to really let your mom have it about your uncle that just won’t stop with the questions or political comments, but if you’re feeling tired and need a night in, tell your family that. Since we’re all humans we should all understand the need to simply be alone some nights, or whatever the case may be, if they can’t understand that, or simply choose not to, it’s on them.
Be thankful whether you really are or not. It’s okay to get a little colorful with your decline and if that means thanking your family twenty times for the invite, then so be it.
Blame Covid. When in doubt, just tell your family you still aren’t super comfortable in large crowds or socializing with people that have been traveling or that you aren’t typically in contact with. You do have to be careful with this one because this wouldn’t be the best time to post photos to social media of you at the Christmas tree farm chopping your tree down amongst several strangers, but if there is a little truth to your fear of crowds, sometimes this is the easiest route out.
Keep in mind that no matter the reason, your emotional well-being is what’s important here and you need to prioritize that and not feel guilty about it. In the long run, you’ll probably be much happier and much more content if you stay in with a few friends or order in takeout and watch some Netflix solo. We’re proud of you and we hope you have a relaxing holiday season!
