Best Excuses to Cancel Plans Last Minute, Genuinely

35 Foolproof Excuses to Get Yourself Out of Plans

The type of excuse you need will depend on how far in advance you committed to your introversion. If you have a day or two until the plans, your excuses are going to look a little bit different than if you are supposed to be on the way to the plans.

Since I know that post-plan-making dread can hit at any moment, I’ve included excuses for both instances! (Thank me later.)

15 Excuses to Get out of Plans in Advance

These excuses are great for when you check your calendar on Wednesday and see that you committed to a Friday night out on the town. You’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and just want to eat popcorn on your couch. You already know that Friday is a no-go.

Here’s how to politely excuse yourself from the plans.

1. “I’m feeling sick.” This old excuse never fails. 1-3 days in advance works great since you’ll likely still be “feeling sick” by the time the plans roll around.
2. “A work thing came up.” Totally believable. It happens all the time! Your boss sprung an unexpected project on you that’s going to have you working some extra hours. Darn.
3. “I have surprise family coming into town!” Bonus points if you play it off like you’re dreading this and would much rather stick to your original plans with them.
4. “I totally forgot it’s my bro-in-law/cousin/dad/guinea pig’s birthday.” Try to choose someone that’s extended enough that it’s believable that you’d forget… but close enough that you’d still be celebrating.
5. “OMG. I already had plans with my sister/mom/friend/etc. that I totally spaced when we made ours!” Darn, you’re such an airhead! Guess you gotta cancel. #SoSad
6. “I actually have an appointment that I totally forgot about.” You’re really forgetful, ya know? (Maybe don’t use all thesee in a row… they might start to worry about you.)
7. “My (someone you live with) is actually feeling pretty sick. I might have to stay back to care for them.” You are such a selfless person… really.
8. “I might’ve been exposed. I think I’m gonna lay low until I know I’m okay to go out.” #PandemicProbs
9. “Work has me SWAMPED. I think I’m going to be working late.” You are such a hardworker. (Yes, binge-watching FRIENDS counts as work.)
10. “I’m really exhausted this week. I don’t know if I have it in me to go out.” Fair enough.
11. “I’ve had an emotional week. I’m going to have to cancel.” This is often really honest for me. A good friend will more than understand.
12. “After thinking more, I decided that I don’t really feel comfortable going out right now.” Again, totally reasonable in a pandemic.
13. “My sister/friend/etc. just asked me for help (doing something – moving, etc.). Any chance we can reschedule?” Not the best… but hey! You’re helping out a loved one. It works.
14. “My car is going into the shop.” Ugh. Don’t ya hate imaginary car problems?
15. “I don’t feel like going.” When in doubt, honesty is the best policy. Maybe they even feel the same way!

20 Excuses to Get Out of Plans Last Minute

Your plans are rapidly approaching and the dread of leaving your couch is only growing. These are 20 excuses to get out of plans that you can use as a last-minute attempt to salvage your night of solitude, take-out, and PJs.

1. “I’m not feeling well.” Again, this is the oldest excuse in the book… but it works like a charm.
2. “I can’t find anyone to watch my kid/puppy/etc.” I shamelessly used my new puppy as a plan-escape for months. #SorryNotSorry
3. “There’s a family/friend/pet emergency.” TBH, I don’t use this one just because I don’t like putting out those vibes, but you do you.
4. “OMG. I TOTALLY FORGOT!” Darn! Our plans totally spaced my mind (I definitely haven’t been stressing about them all day) and now I can’t make it!
5. “I work really early tomorrow.” Any chance we can do another night? I have to be up super early. Ugh!
6. “I threw up…” This is a sure-fire way out of plans. No one likes a puker.
7. “I have a migraine.” Headaches are miserable. Hopefully your friend will sympathize with this excuse.
8. “I have so much to do around the house.” Too overwhelmed with housework – a classic excuse.
9. “I hurt my back/ankle/hip/etc. on my run today.” Another excuse that’s risky… be cautious of jinxing yourself.
10. “I’m super exhausted.” Fair enough. And not a lie. We’ve all been there.
11. “I don’t feel like people-ing.” If your friend is a fellow introvert, they will totally get this.
12. “I’m having car troubles.” FYI – this excuse has holes. They may offer to pick you up. I learned from experience. SMH… rookie mistake.
13. “I don’t really have the money.” Again, potential holes here. They may offer to pay. In which case, you have some nice friends. Go see them. ?
14. “I’ve had a really bad day.” Hopefully they don’t go all supportive and want to talk you through it.
15. “I went too hard last night.” They don’t have to know that last night was spent in sweats with a large pizza all for you and your dog.
16. “I got caught up at work.” A pretty boring excuse, but it works.
17. “I’m stuck in traffic!” Be sure that they can’t fact-check you or you’ll be #caught
18. “Something came up.” It’s vague and not the best excuse, but it works in a pinch.
19. “I’m feeling a little under the weather.” Tell them that you won’t be much fun since you feel a bit blah. Really, you’re just looking out for them.
20. “I don’t want to.” When in doubt, honesty is the best policy.

Video

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What is the best excuse

Answered By: Jeremiah Baker Date: created: Aug 16 2021

Good excuses to miss workSickness. If you’re not feeling well, it’s best not to go to work. … Family illness or emergency. A family emergency could refer to a variety of circumstances, such as a sick child or dependent, a car accident or an unexpected surgery. … Home emergency/car trouble. … Death of a loved one.Oct 30, 2020

Asked By: Hugh Robinson Date: created: Dec 13 2021

Why do I have anxiety about making plans?

Why People Have Anxiety About Planning

Sometimes this anxiety stems from a fear of failure that keeps them immobilized. Other times they just don’t know where to start. But many times, the anxiety they are experiencing is rooted in the quest for perfectionism.

2. Transportation issue

You can use a variety of commuting concerns regardless of where you live! And, while travel complications are infuriating most of the time, they can be a significant plus in this case:

“There is construction going on near my house, I can’t drive the car.”

“I just checked, and you don’t believe what happened. I am not able to book Uber, due to excess bookings.”

“I just checked, and I found that there is a problem in my car.”

3 I Don’t like People

Here’s a blunt one. While there’s some decent people out there, many of them are unbearable. If you don’t want to be around other humans, just say so. It’s hard to argue with.

What do you call a person who doesnt plan?

nonconformist Add to list Share. A nonconformist is someone who doesn’t conform to other people’s ideas of how things should be. … If your actions mark you as a nonconformist, chances are you’ll take a nonconformist approach when it comes to planning your next vacation.

2. Migraine

Better than claiming flu, a migraine has fewer obvious symptoms.

Bear in mind a full blow migraine means you can’t look at bright lights, so any activity on social media is out, lest you blow your cover.

If You’re Always ‘That Person,’ Try This

Stop saying yes to every event: FOMO is a real thing, but it’s also super important to have some time for yourself and take a step away from the social scene. It’s ok to say no — realize that turning down super fun plans is better than committing to them and fretting about coming up with a lame excuse later.

Instead of going along with someone else’s plans 24/7, how about you start calling the shots? If you make the plans and want people to show up, there’s no way you can back out last minute. But, don’t be surprised if people flake on your events — you may have given off an unreliable vibe in the past but make it clear to your friends that you’ve been overwhelmed lately and apologize for always skipping out—or make the effort to host a girls night at your place (wine included).  

Is it rude to cancel plans

Answered By: Douglas Richardson Date: created: Jun 13 2021

Canceled plans can be inconsiderate and TBH disrespectful, especially if you’re dealing with a repeat offender.

Asked By: Patrick Rodriguez Date: created: Jan 24 2021

15. Having a row with your other half

A classic.

The other person feels bad for you, and smug about their relationship/being single, therefore uses their newly free evening to marinade in their self satisfaction.

How to cancel plans graciously

If you do decide to cancel, it’s not the end of the world. Seriously! Sure, your friend might be bummed out, but I’ve found it’s helpful to think of this as the natural and correct response from them, even if you definitely made the right choice for yourself in this moment—i.e., you’re not wrong to cancel, and they’re not wrong to be kind of disappointed. However, putting a little thought into how you bow out is what will keep the situation from turning into five-alarm friendship fire. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Think about whether you can adjust the plans in any way.

More often than not, our friends just want to see us, and don’t care about going to a fancy restaurant or doing a cool activity. So think about what you would be up for doing, and consider offering that as an alternative to your pal instead of outright bailing. You might say something like this:

“Hey, friend, I’m completely exhausted and broke right now, and am honestly feeling very stressed about our plans for tomorrow night. I really want to catch up with you, though—would you be up for coming to my place and letting me cook you dinner instead of us going all the way to New Jersey? And we could still plan to go to Medieval Times next month, once I’ve finished this big project and my bonus paycheck has hit.”

5. My friend needs me right now

This is a fantastic concept because you can say your best mate or someone in your family is in trouble and in desperate need of your help. This scene is completely acceptable, and everyone understands that your closer ones need you at this moment.

Remember that they might call them, so let them know ahead of time.

Excuses to cancel a meeting via audio/video call

07Technical difficulties   Technology is usually reliable, but it doesn’t mean that it won’t fail us from time to time. Technical difficulties can include a poor internet connection, a damaged laptop, low sound quality for a microphone, or a faulty webcam.   This can happen to anyone, no matter how high-tech or expensive your device may be. Sometimes, some simple troubleshooting with a customer service representative can’t fix the issue in time for your meeting.   In that case, once you explain the situation to the other attendees, they are likely to understand. They may choose to tolerate the situation until the issue is rectified. If not, the meeting will have to be canceled until the matter is resolved. E.g. “Hello everyone, I’m having some issues connecting to my Internet, so I won’t be able to host the Zoom meeting at 3 p.m. if nothing changes.” 08Power outage   Power outages are different from technical difficulties because there is literally nothing that you can do about it. All you can do is wait until the electric company addresses the issue for you.   When this happens, your home will be in darkness meaning that you won’t be able to have your meeting. Not to mention, your internet connection is likely to be affected, and your devices may lose power/charge mid-meeting.   It would be a bad idea to have a video call meeting in the dark. You shouldn’t have an audio meeting if you have no power to keep your phone or computer connected. You can imagine that your laptop or tablet might die mid-conversation.   With a power outage, any logical person can understand that an audio/video meeting is ineffective and needs to be canceled.

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E.g. “My entire neighborhood is in darkness right now, and I’m hearing reports that it’s going to be like this for the entire city, for a few hours or more. Let’s cancel the meeting tonight, and we can wait until the power is back up before scheduling it anew.”09Death in family   A sudden death in the family is especially hard to handle because you don’t get the chance to say goodbye. It will be hard to focus on anything if you are very overcome with grief, and a meeting would definitely be too hard to handle at the same time.   This is a good excuse to use when you have a boss or a client who is compassionate. In most cases, the other person will understand that you need space and time to heal before getting back to business. The following is how you can inform the client or your boss about the unfortunate incident:E.g. “It is with a heavy heart that I need cancel the meeting that we have scheduled for this afternoon. Earlier this morning, I learned that my grandmother passed away in the hospital, and I have been in mourning ever since. Please keep my family in your thoughts at this time. Thanks.” 10A last-minute request from a client   Sometimes, clients don’t understand that you have other obligations. Even though, you want to do the best possible job for your client, you’ll have to deal with your other obligations.   Many clients are demanding, and at other times, they forget things that may mean more work for you at a later date. For example, some clients try to add details to a meeting or task at the last minute.   If you have an upcoming meeting, and you have received a last-minute request, your boss will likely prefer that you attend to the needs of the client to keep him/her happy. E.g. “I’ll have to cancel our meeting at 4 p.m. today. I just got a call from Mrs. Whitby, and she needs someone to [insert request]. She asked for me by name to take care of it.” 11Other meeting is running late   Having back-to-back meetings is a drag. Who wants to spend a whole day in and out of meetings?   Well, this does happen. In fact, these meetings may go over the allotted time, and they can run into the time that’s been set aside for your next scheduled meeting.   When this happens, you can’t just hang up on the person, especially because they are probably hoping to finish the discussion.   This made the list of excuses to cancel a meeting because this is something that happens not only for face-to-face meetings, but it can also happen for video and audio conference calls.   In a case like this, you will have to cancel and text your boss/client/colleague to let him/her know what is happening. Here’s a sample text:E.g. “Good evening Mr. Richards, I know that we have a meeting scheduled in a few minutes, but this meeting with my client is taking much longer than expected. Let’s cancel the meeting for now, and I’ll send the most importance details to you via email.”

How do I stop feeling guilty about Cancelling plans?

How to cope with cancel anxiety

Focus on yourself 100%. If you’ve taken the time to prioritise your well-being, don’t spend the evening feeling guilt or regret. … Remember that FOMO is normal. We all experience it at times. … Unfollow/mute friends on social media for 24 hours and tell them not to tag you in any photos.

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