9 Polite Ways to Say “Do Not Disturb” at Work

Okay, so you don’t want to be disturbed. That’s fair enough! But, you need to find a polite way to say “do not disturb” when you’re at work to avoid unwanted attention.

This article will explore another way to say “do not disturb.” There are plenty of better options available when talking to a coworker.

• Could you leave me alone for a few minutes?
• I would like some peace and quiet
• Is it okay if I work on this alone?
• I hope you can give me the space I need
• I would rather not be disturbed right now
• Please, don’t disturb me while I’m here
• I’m not here to chat!
• Don’t disturb my flow
• I’ll lose my rhythm if anyone cuts me off

Keep reading to learn a nicer way to say “do not disturb.” We’ll explain more about each of the synonyms to show you when it’s appropriate to use them.

1. Could You Leave Me Alone for a Few Minutes?

“Could you leave me alone for a few minutes?” is a simple and polite question to replace “do not disturb.” You can use it when you only have a small amount of work to do.

“A few minutes” suggests that you won’t take long. However, the question still asks that people respect your wishes and leave you in peace while you get to work.

Perhaps you’d benefit from reading these examples:

• Could you leave me alone for a few minutes? I have some work that I’d like to crack on with.
• Oh, could you leave me alone for a few minutes, too? I need to get all of this done quickly.

2. I Would Like Some Peace and Quiet

You can use “I would like some peace and quiet” in formal and informal contexts. It’s a very effective synonym because it shows that you would like people to leave you alone while you work on something.

“Peace and quiet” generally suggests you want to remain alone in your office or room while working. As long as you make it clear to everyone around you before you start working, most people will leave you alone out of respect.

Take a look at these examples to see how to use it:

• I would like some peace and quiet, so please relay that to my team. They are not to come in for any reason.
• I would like some peace and quiet over the next few hours. Do you understand?

3. Is It Okay if I Work on This Alone?

You can use “is it okay if I work on this alone?” as a polite question. It’s great to use professionally because it shows respect toward whoever you’re asking.

It still means “do not disturb,” but it is not rude in delivery.

You may want to check out these examples to help you:

• Is it okay if I work on this alone? I appreciate you, but I need to do this by myself.
• Is it okay if I work on this alone, Jackson? It will help me get to the bottom of the problem more quickly.

4. I Hope You Can Give Me the Space I Need

“I hope you can give me the space I need” is a pleasant and friendly synonym. It works well as a polite alternative because it shows you would like some time away from your fellows.

You might use this when talking to friends. It shows that you would “hope” (or appreciate) that they leave you alone for a short while. Then, you can guarantee that you’ll complete whatever it is you want to work on.

Here are a few examples to help you:

• I hope you can give me the space I need. I don’t know how long it’s going to take me.
• This is something I need to do on my own. So, I hope you can give me the space I need.

5. I Would Rather Not Be Disturbed Right Now

“I would rather not be disturbed right now” is a simple and formal alternative. It shows you have a few things to work on and would appreciate privacy.

You should use this when talking to coworkers before you start work. It suggests that they should leave you alone and let you focus on whatever you’re doing.

Take a look through these examples to see how it works:

• Trust me; I have a lot on my plate. So, I would rather not be disturbed right now.
• I would rather not be disturbed right now. Do you think you can manage that?

6. Please, Don’t Disturb Me While I’m Here

“Please, don’t disturb me while I’m here” is a very polite alternative. It starts with “please,” showing that you’d appreciate it if people left you alone while you worked.

“While I’m here” often means you’re at the office. So, it works well when talking to coworkers and begging them to leave you undisturbed.

You can refer to these examples to help you:

• Please, don’t disturb me while I’m here. It won’t take me long, and I know I can do it alone.
• Please, don’t disturb me while I’m here, Matt! There are a few things I have to work through.

7. I’m Not Here to Chat!

“I’m not here to chat!” is a great synonym for “do not disturb.” It implies that you do not want people to disturb you without saying it directly.

Some might think you’re in a bad mood if you say this, though. So, it’s not the most polite variation. Still, it’s very effective when you want people to leave you alone.

Maybe these examples will clear things up:

• I’m not here to chat! Do not knock on my office door for any reason!
• No, guys! I’m not here to chat today. I would appreciate it if you could leave me alone.

8. Don’t Disturb My Flow

“Don’t disturb my flow” is a fun way to say “do not disturb.” It adds “my flow” into the equation, suggesting you are working efficiently.

So, if someone comes in and disturbs you, you will lose your “flow.” It warns people that it would be unfair to disturb you. After all, you would never intentionally disturb them if they were in their “flow.”

Here are a few examples to show you how it works:

• Look, don’t disturb my flow right now. I’m on the precipice of something huge.
• Don’t disturb my flow, and I won’t have to write you up! I’m serious!

9. I’ll Lose My Rhythm if Anyone Cuts Me Off

“I’ll lose my rhythm if anyone cuts me off” is a creative way to say “do not disturb.” It implies that you work to a specific rhythm or beat, which keeps you working at a certain rate.

So, if someone comes along and interrupts you, you will lose your rhythm. Then, you might lose your efficiency and not work as well as before.

Therefore, warning people beforehand that you don’t want to lose your rhythm is useful. It shows you want to remain undisturbed.

Here are a few examples to help you:

• I’m not joking when I say I’ll lose my rhythm if anyone cuts me off! So, please don’t come into my office.
• I’ll lose my rhythm if anyone cuts me off mid-flow. Please, don’t make this harder for me.