Hi Jessica and the trick is to pair warmth with a clear end time. Start with a friendly opener plus a boundary & like "Great to see you, I only have a minute before I need to start dinner" or "I can chat until I reach the corner, then I have a call." Face your body toward your door or car, keep your keys or a grocery bag in your hand, & take a small step back so your body language matches your words. When there is a pause, do a quick acknowledge and close, like "That sounds exciting, I need to head in now, talk soon." Avoid asking a new question at the end since that reopens the conversation. If they keep going, use the broken record approach with a smile, "I really do have to go now, we can catch up another time," and then actually leave. Give specific anchors so it feels less like a brush off, for example "I am usually free Saturday mornings by the mailboxes" or "Evenings are family time for me." You can also preempt long chats by wearing headphones, walking with purpose, or saying as you approach, "I only have five minutes while the dog does his loop." If they pop by at bad times, set a house rule once and stick to it, like "I do quick porch hellos, but I do not do drop in visits during dinner." If it is a recurring issue, be direct but kind, "I enjoy our chats, but I need to keep them short so I can get work done," and then be consistent.