Strike up a chat with a stranger while you wait
RippleConnection

Strike up a chat with a stranger while you wait

At the coffee line, the waiting room, the platform. Anywhere you've got time to kill.

2-5 minutes

Why This Matters

Most people expect a stranger would rather be left alone. Studies keep finding otherwise: the ones who tried it didn’t get brushed off, and both people came away happier than those who stayed quiet.

The wait is the opening

Where do you usually end up waiting? The pharmacy, the school pickup, the queue for coffee. Whoever’s next to you is in the same boat.

How to do this

  1. Catch their eye and smile.
  2. Say something about the wait, the weather or even this ripple.
  3. Keep it short and sweet. Done.

Epley & Schroeder, “Mistakenly Seeking Solitude” (2014).

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