Make Yourself Unavailable

The Power of Saying No

Animation by Micaela Ganga

We make ourselves too available.

We say yes too often and, in doing so, turn away from what truly matters.

You deserve to keep things to yourself, especially your time and attention. Saying no isn’t selfish. It’s necessary. It creates room for your creative work, your growth, and the life you actually want.

As a writer deep in the middle of drafting my novel, I’ve had to become protective of my writing time. I guard it like something sacred. Sure, I write on the train and between teaching but I’ve also started blocking off time in my calendar to sit at my desk and hit my daily word count.

I’ve taken it seriously.

I put my phone on Do Not Disturb.

I block apps.

I cancel plans (not always ideal), especially when I’m behind on my work or not in the right headspace to show up.

This structure is what allows me to move forward. And the closer I get to finishing, the more unapologetically unavailable I become.

It’s not always easy to set boundaries around your creative life—especially when it involves people you care about. But boundaries aren’t about isolation. They’re about protection. They're how you keep what matters intact.

Make yourself not available.

You’re the only one who can show up for your work the way it deserves.

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