Short journal · Original editorial · Care with room to breathe
A person offers help without naming what they can do.
A considerate invitation gives someone useful information and room to choose. Listening, company, and practical help are different offers. Ask which is welcome, and make commitments that fit the time and energy you actually have.
Offer one specific task with a clear limit.
You can stop after one small attempt. The purpose is to make a particular choice clearer, not to create a new obligation.
Try a question
What would you notice after trying this in one small, real situation?