I have a loud mouth.
Sometimes I speak my mind before I even think, and more often than not there might be some swearing in there.
That’s gotten me in a lot of trouble at work, and even contributed to me losing one job in the past and breaking up a relationship I cared about.
That’s why I’ve put together this list for folks who are looking for more subtle and imaginative ways to tell people you just don’t give a sh*t.
11 creative ways to say “I don’t give a f*ck” professionally
There are all sorts of situations where people try to force you to care about something that’s only going to cause you drama and stress for no reason.
This is when you’re most likely to lash out and say “I don’t give a f*ck, leave me alone!”
Instead, I want to encourage the following alternatives:
1) Smile and nod
One of the most creative ways to say “I don’t give a f*ck” professionally is to say nothing at all.
Just smile and nod.
It sounds extremely simplistic, and it is, but this really works.
In many cases, stressful situations and people can be bypassed by simply nodding and grinning.
Avoid responding or getting involved, but try to show a general level of indifference mixed with vague friendliness.
This doesn’t work if you’re being ranted at or demanded to do something, but it can work if you’re dealing with a coworker, partner or friend who’s being intense.
Instead of wading into the sh*tstorm, you just smile and nod.
2) ‘I understand’
The sitcom Two And A Half Men has a funny episode about this involving the main character Charlie.
Charlie is anything but an example and is a womanizing, alcoholic mess.
But he he presents one of the most exemplary and creative ways to say “I don’t give a f*ck” professionally.
He simply says: “I understand.”
When the person talking to him says more or asks what he thinks he looks thoughtful and says “I understand.”
He’s not even listening, and he couldn’t care less.
But something about those two magic words make someone feel heard even when you’re a million miles away.
You don’t like this tip and think it’s rude?
“I understand.”
3) ‘Sorry, I need to focus’
Many people say they need to focus as an excuse or to stop listening to annoying folks trying to grab their attention.
But when you really do need to get down to business, “sorry, I need to focus” isn’t an excuse: it’s the truth.
And the key to having something strong to focus on is to find your purpose.
When it comes to experiencing peace from being dragged down by the expectations and drama of others, it could be that you’re not living your life aligned with a deeper sense of purpose.
The consequences of not finding your purpose in life include a general sense of frustration, listlessness, dissatisfaction and a sense of not being connected with your inner self.
It’s difficult to stay focused and ignore the drama when you’re not feeling in sync.
I learned a new way to discover my purpose after watching Ideapod co-founder Justin Brown’s video on the hidden trap of improving yourself. He explains that most people misunderstand how to find their purpose, using visualization and other self-help techniques.
However, visualization isn’t the best way to find your purpose. Instead, there’s a new way to do it which Justin Brown learned from spending time with a shaman in Brazil.
After watching the video, I discovered my purpose in life and it dissolved my feelings of frustration and dissatisfaction. This helped me to become laser-focused on my goals and learn to honestly tell those who tried to drag my attention to other things:
“Sorry, I need to focus.”
4) ‘That’s not something I pay a lot of attention to.’
Another one of the most creative ways to say “I don’t give a f*ck” professionally is to say “that’s not something I pay a lot of attention to.”
This really makes it clear that you’re just not tuned into the topic at hand and that you don’t want to be.
You’re making it very obvious that you’d like this conversation to come to a denouement and wind down.
You’re tapping out, and professionally saying that you just don’t give a hoot.
So the next time somebody asks you your opinion on the Kardashians or tries to start drama over their opinion that your beard looks bad.
You just tell them:
“That’s not something I pay a lot of attention to.”
5) “Yeah, um, I’m gonna go now …”
Another of the creative ways to say “I don’t give a f*ck” professionally is to let somebody know that you’re out of the conversation.
“Yeah, um, I’m gonna go now …” is a good way to let somebody know that you’ve had your fill and you really don’t care.
These lines are best delivered with a hint of indifference but also while physically walking or moving away to let the other individual or individuals know you’re serious.
Variations of this are also useful. For example if you’re at work and people are gossipping about a coworker’s love life, you may not be able to physically leave.
In this case you could instead say: “Yeah, um, I’m gonna go back to work now. Have a good one guys.”
Your coworkers may think you’re a stick in the mud, but just remember that you have no obligation to care or gossip about things you don’t wish to.
6) ‘Where are you going with this?’
When an interaction has become boring and useless, you don’t have to start complaining and venting.
Instead, you can just ask a very simple question: “Where are you going with this?”
This is a powerful question because it puts the burden on those around you to give you any reason why this interaction or situation should continue.
You are throwing down the gauntlet and asking point blank about what the point of this interaction is.
You are letting this person or people know that you don’t care what they have said so far.
You want results, information and clarity.
And you’re ready to walk away if you don’t get it.
7) ‘I’ve got to run!’
Nothing says “I don’t care” like being so busy you barely have time to respond.
“I’ve got to run” really says it all…
But the question is: where do you have to run to and why?
As I touched on earlier, finding your purpose the right way is a big part of that.
And having a life that actually means something is also crucial.
So:
What does it take to build a life filled with exciting opportunities and passion-fueled adventures?
Most of us hope for a life like that, but we feel stuck, unable to achieve the goals we wishfully set at the start of each year.
We feel forced to keep pretending about things we just truly find boring, frustrating or irrelevant.
I felt the same way until I took part in Life Journal. Created by teacher and life coach Jeanette Brown, this was the ultimate wake-up call I needed to stop dreaming and start taking action.
Click here to find out more about Life Journal.
You may ask:
What makes Jeanette’s guidance more effective than other self-development programs?
It’s simple:
Jeanette’s created a unique way of putting YOU in control of your life.
She’s not interested in telling you how to live your life and she doesn’t tell you what you have to care about in your life.
Instead, she’ll give you lifelong tools that’ll help you achieve all your goals, keeping the focus on what you’re passionate about.
And that’s what makes Life Journal so powerful.
If you’re ready to start living the life you’ve always dreamt of, you need to check out Jeanette’s advice. Who knows, today could be the first day of your new life.
8) ‘Thanks for your opinion’
Another one of the creative ways to say “I don’t give a f*ck” professionally is to say “thanks for your opinion.”
There’s a pleasing finality to this statement.
It sounds like the type of thing somebody would say who’s just not impressed and doesn’t care.
And in this case that person is you.
You’re letting a person know that you’re just not very interested and that their opinion doesn’t mean much to you.
Hurtful? Maybe.
Genuine? Yes.
9) ‘Well, the weather sure is great today, don’t you think?’
The weather may be a somewhat boring topic, but it can be a lifesaver when you’re bowing out of an interaction.
You may be having your ear talked off about how the economy is going to crash and we’re all going to die in the apocalypse by a stranger on the bus.
It’s all very dramatic and disturbing, but at the same time you’re much more focused on an art project you’re working on and you’re really trying to focus on it mentally.
So you nod and smile (tip one) and then listen as the stranger continues even more loudly, spittle beginning to fly.
“Well, the weather sure is great today, don’t you think?”
“The weather? That’s completely HAARP-controlled, man,” the stranger says with wild eyes, almost shouting.
Of course you’ve heard of the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) and you know there’s probably something to it.
But you’d really rather not get an education in Conspiracy YouTube 101 at this particular point in time from a mustachioed man with eyes that now seem to be turning into glowing orbs.
So it’s now time to pivot to tip ten: the direct approach.
10) ‘I’d rather discontinue this conversation’
This is where you just politely and firmly put your cards down on the table:
“I’d rather discontinue this conversation.”
It’s hard for anyone to misinterpret, even an over-enthusiastic stranger on the bus.
You’re informing somebody that you just don’t care enough to continue the interaction and that you’d prefer to close things off here.
There’s no guarantee they will listen, but you can be very sure that you’ve done your part to exit.
You have said in no uncertain terms that you’ve had your fill and don’t give a f*ck.
You could also get creative by directly shocking the person in a way that ends the conversation.
In the above example you might say “I actually do research for the government regarding HAARP, so I can’t really continue this conversation.”
They’ll be three seats away from you before you finish speaking.
11) ‘My favorite part of this discussion was at the very end’
A little humor never killed anybody, and it can be one of the most creative ways to say “I don’t give a f*ck” professionally.
After doing the smile and nod you look pensive and then say:
“My favorite part of this discussion was at the very end.”
“Like what I said about my sister’s divorce and why I think she’s a slut? I just can’t believe that sl-”
“No, no, the very end.”
“Oh, like…?”
“Yeah, the part where you stopped talking … That was my favorite.”
Sure, this is kind of insulting, but presumably so is the person talking about his or her negative views of their sister’s love life.
Letting them know you just aren’t into talking about it and don’t care is fully within your rights.
And couching your lack of f*cks given in a joke is even better.
I don’t give a flying f*ck, bucko
The next time you have the urge to blurt out how little you care and exit a social situation, I hope the list above gives you some useful options.
Instead of just letting the f-bombs fly, try to get more creative.
Not only will you feel less regretful afterwards, you may even get a laugh from those around you for your imaginative way of cutting out of a conversation or interaction.
