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By Geralin Thomas

A lot of women say yes to things because they don’t know how to say no, resulting in being overcommitted. Below are a few examples of how to gently excuse yourself from deadlines and overcommitting. The trick is to keep your answers honest but brief -- no need for long-winded excuses that aren’t true. Try responses like these:

• "I’m sorry. I’m unable to help with the church fundraiser/school newsletter/arts ball this year."
  
• "At the moment I’ve overcommitted myself, but I can donate $10 instead to the bake sale."
  
• "While I enjoy babysitting your children every afternoon, I am working on some personal matters and won’t be able to do it until after the holidays."
  
• "Normally I’d accept [an invitation], but this weekend I am committed to spending quiet time at home. Thank you for the invitation though."
  
• "I’m not comfortable driving the church van to the mountains. If there is some type of data entry work that can be done from home, I’m happy to volunteer for that".

When your children hear you prioritizing family times they learn to respect the idea of scheduling tasks; in addition, they learn to set their own boundaries. The biggest bonus? They understand that "I love you" means slowing down enough to spend time together as a family.

Learn more about Geralin Thomas at www.metropolitanorganizing.com.