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Without draining yourself in the process:

1. Lower your expectations. Emotionally unintelligent people often lack self-awareness, empathy, or emotional regulation. Expecting emotional depth or accountability from them usually leads to frustration. Adjusting expectations protects your peace.
2. Communicate clearly and concretely. Avoid hints, emotional subtext, or indirect language. Be direct, specific, and factual. Clear boundaries and straightforward statements work far better than emotional appeals.
3. Don’t take it personally. Their reactions often reflect their limitations—not your worth or intentions. Detaching emotionally helps you respond thoughtfully instead of reacting defensively.
4. Set and enforce boundaries. Decide what behavior you will and won’t tolerate, and act consistently. Boundaries aren’t about changing them; they’re about protecting your time, energy, and emotional health.
5. Limit emotional engagement. You don’t have to explain your feelings in depth or seek validation from them. Share selectively, disengage when conversations turn unproductive, and save emotional energy for people who can reciprocate.

Bottom line: You can’t teach emotional intelligence to someone who isn’t ready to learn—but you can manage your responses, protect your well-being, and choose how much access they have.