A gentle no is still a no
Try: “I cannot commit to that, but thank you for asking.” No long defense is required.
Explore gently
medium-energy
Thoughtful resources for overstimulation, social recovery, boundaries, quiet routines, humor, and growth.
I socialized; please respect my recovery period
A small laugh for the highly sensitive calendar: the event may be two hours; the decompression has its own itinerary.