DEAR HARRIETTE: On my daily walk to work, missionaries stand on the sidewalk and attempt to convert anyone they can by handing out pamphlets. I really don’t ever want to have conversations about religion, especially at 8:45 in the morning. I have been struggling to find a way to show I do not want to speak to or support them, but I always get lured into a conversation. I don’t want to be rude and start a fight, but I also don’t want to waste time pretending to be converted on the sidewalk. – No Chit- Chat, Denver

DEAR NO CHIT-CHAT: It is time for you to toughen up. Just because those missionaries are hanging out on a sidewalk that’s part of your daily path, it does not mean that you have to talk to them. You do not even have to make eye contact. There is no rule of social engagement that says that you have to speak to anyone on the street.

That said, it is friendly to acknowledge the people who cross your path. In many cities, the common way of doing this is to smile and sometimes nod your head. You may feel more comfortable doing that rather than averting your eyes. But if one of these missionaries – or anybody else for that matter – tries to stop you in your tracks and have a prolonged interaction, just don’t do it. Keep walking. You can say, “I don’t have time to talk now.” You can also tell them that you aren’t interested. That is not rude. That is you asserting your rights.

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DEAR HARRIETTE: I always had a hard time going to sleep until I finally began shutting off my electronics an hour before bed. It’s a rough transition in the age of social media where we constantly try to stay connected, but it makes a world of difference when I am all wound down and ready for bed. My husband, however, has a stressful job and stays on his phone sending out last-minute emails up until the moment he falls asleep. Although the light from his phone bothers me, I am more worried about his quality of sleep. How can I get him on the same sleeping path as me so we can both wake up rested? – Digital Age, Seattle

DEAR DIGITAL AGE: Without badgering your husband, you can share stories with him of how your sleep and energy have improved ever since you shut off your electronics in advance of preparing for bed. Suggest to your husband that he try it out for a week as an experiment. Acknowledge that you know how busy he is and how much pressure he is under at his job. Suggest that he may actually be able to do his job better if he allows his mind and body the time to recharge each night without electronic distractions.

Do your best not to push him on this. If he refuses, you may want to tell him that the constant light flickering from his devices is distracting to you. You can ask him to limit his usage in the bedroom because it is interrupting your sleep.

— Lifestylist and author Harriette Cole is president and creative director of Harriette Cole Media. You can send questions to [email protected] or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.