Last updated on Sep 18, 2024

You're focused on personal growth and well-being. How can you politely decline after-hours work events?

Key takeaways from this article

Set personal policies:

Establishing your own boundaries, like a maximum number of work-related events you attend, helps others respect your time as much as you do. It’s a clear way to communicate limits and maintain well-being.
Offer alternative meetups:

Suggesting lunch or coffee instead of after-hours events shows you value networking but on your terms. It keeps the door open for professional connections without encroaching on personal time.

This summary is powered by AI and these experts

When work-life balance is your mantra, it's important to set boundaries respectfully. Here's how to gracefully decline after-hours work events:

- Express appreciation for the invite while being honest about your commitment to personal time.

- Offer an alternative way to connect with colleagues, like a lunch meetup.

- Be consistent in your responses to set clear expectations.

What strategies have worked for you when balancing personal time and professional networking?

Add your perspective

Julien Florkin

🎯 Consulting Services & Coaching 🍀 Ivy League Certified ➡️ Facing Personal, Professional or Business Challenges? Let's Find Solutions to your Problems 📧 Contact Me Now!
Report contribution
🧘♂️ "Balance is not something you find, it's something you create." – Jana Kingsford 💼 Example: Arianna Huffington famously set boundaries after burning out early in her career. By prioritizing well-being, she declined after-hours events and built Thrive Global to promote healthier work habits. The result? She scaled her business while preserving her health! 💡 Express gratitude, suggest alternatives (like a lunch), and stay firm but polite. Consistency shows you respect your time and others' too.

Like
Sigita Gliozere

I write about personal growth | Exploring psychedelics for transformation and sharing my journey | 10+ years in personal development | Follow for real conversations
Report contribution
I find saying NO kindly, but firmly, very effective. Be clear about your limits. Create a 'personal policy': - X amount of uplifting conversations a week - Z amount of inspiring dinners a week - no work events zone etc. People respect your time if you respect it yourself.

Like
Mitch Lomazov

Keynote Speaker | Certified Coach l TEDx Speaker
(edited)
Report contribution
I have a prior commitment!! Spending time with your spouse, your kids, going to the gym, those are all commitments. It doesn't always have to be a work-related reason you cannot attend; you do not need to go into the specifics unless you want to. Next time someone asks, just let them know you have a prior commitment :)

Like
Sebastian Bates

Founder at The Warrior Academy & The Bates Foundation | Operating across 8 countries in 4 continents | Sponsoring 4,000+ Orphans & Street Kids | Award Winning Entrepreneur | 2x Best Selling Author
Report contribution
To politely decline after-hours work events, express appreciation for the invitation while being honest about your commitment to personal time. For example, you could say, "Thank you so much for inviting me, but I’ve set aside this time for personal commitments." Offering an alternative, like connecting during lunch, shows you're still interested in engaging with colleagues, just within your set boundaries.

Like
Revaz Ghambarashvili

Full-Stack Developer | AI Explorer 🤖 | Helping People Boost Productivity 🚀 | Maintaining Open-Source Projects with 150k+ Downloads | Mentored 240+ Students 🎓
Report contribution
Start by thanking them for the invite, then explain that you’ve set aside this time for personal growth or rest. 🌿 Suggest an alternative, like a coffee or lunch during work hours. This shows you're still interested in connecting, just on your terms. ☕ Be consistent in setting these boundaries so colleagues understand and respect your limits. Remember, your well-being matters too! 😊

Like

Load more contributions

You're focused on personal growth and well-being. How can you politely decline after-hours work events?

Personal Development

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

More articles on Personal Development

You're focused on personal growth and well-being. How can you politely decline after-hours work events?

Personal Development

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

Explore Other Skills