if there's a good reason for you not wanting to hurt their feelings (not just "weh it's awkward if they're sad", but they're otherwise a close friend, you have to work with them over a long period of time, you see them every morning whether you want to or not etc.), then you might be able to frame is as a "your own personal preferences" thing
like if they're texting you nonstop, you could gently say (or text) to them that you get stressed out when you have to keep up with a steady stream of messages, so could they cut back? thanks.
this applies to all sorts of interactions -- "hey, i appreciate all your invitations to go minigolfing but my schedule is super crazy i don't want to keep turning you down. could you take me off the invite list for now? thanks, i appreciate it." "getting messages via carrier pigeon isn't really my thing-- I'll miss all your letters and your birds will just get shut out of my home. Could we go back to email instead?"
DON'T apologize for your preferences, just lay them out in a "by the way" tone, ask for what you need (fewer texts, less pp's, no more invites) and say thanks at the end like you're already expecting them to follow your request.
no subject
like if they're texting you nonstop, you could gently say (or text) to them that you get stressed out when you have to keep up with a steady stream of messages, so could they cut back? thanks.
this applies to all sorts of interactions -- "hey, i appreciate all your invitations to go minigolfing but my schedule is super crazy i don't want to keep turning you down. could you take me off the invite list for now? thanks, i appreciate it." "getting messages via carrier pigeon isn't really my thing-- I'll miss all your letters and your birds will just get shut out of my home. Could we go back to email instead?"
DON'T apologize for your preferences, just lay them out in a "by the way" tone, ask for what you need (fewer texts, less pp's, no more invites) and say thanks at the end like you're already expecting them to follow your request.