Should I remind a guest that time has passed if they're staying too long?

When someone lingers at my place after a long workday, I usually drop hints that I'm tired - I'll offer tea as a final treat or start talking about my plans for tomorrow. It's tacky and hurtful to remind them directly about the time, so it's better to create an atmosphere where the guest wants to leave on their own. If the visit is clearly overstaying its welcome, you can gently say something like "it was so nice to see you, but I have to get up early tomorrow" - that way you won't hurt their feelings, but they'll get the message.

It all depends on your relationship and the context - if it's a close friend or family member, subtle hints like offering tea can work, but sometimes they don't land at all because the person might not even notice. I honestly think it's easier to be direct with friends: "Hey, I need to get up early tomorrow, so maybe we should wrap up?" - normal people will get it and won't be offended. Now with acquaintances or people you don't know well, yeah, it's better to be more tactful, but still give them some clear signal rather than torture yourself hoping they'll just leave on their own.

Straight talk works better than all these tricks. If you just say "Look, I've got an early shift tomorrow, I need to get some rest," most people will understand and won't be offended - it's nothing personal. Of course, tone matters, but honesty works way more often than waiting for someone to notice you look stressed or turning down tea a second time.