05.21.24
This Small Talk Scavenger Hunt Will Help You Feel Less Awkward
So...do you like cheese?
If you're someone who would rather sit naked on a hot grill than make small talk with a group of strangers, that's fair. Small talk is one of those necessary-but-awkward steps to meeting new people, making connections, and eventually graduating to deeper chats. It's also a skill—just like any other—that gets stronger the more you practice.
Since no one really teaches you how to get better at small talk, we asked Wondermind Advisory Committee member Miriam Kirmayer, PhD, to lead a free virtual workshop on exactly that. As a special added bonus, Dr. Kirmayer created this small talk scavenger hunt to help you hone your small talk skills out in the wild.
By starting with low-stakes activities (think: smiling at a stranger with a cute dog) and eventually working your way up to legit small talk sessions with neighbors, coworkers, or other people in your community, you'll start to feel a whole lot more comfortable chatting up the people around you. And, ICYMI, leaning into social interactions with casual acquaintances is actually a great way to mitigate loneliness.
BTW: There's legit research backing this up. A 2022 study used a week-long scavenger hunt filled with opportunities to approach and talk to strangers as an intervention to help people feel better about approaching other folks when they were out and about. The researchers found that people who did the scavenger hunt were less pessimistic about being rejected and more optimistic about their conversational abilities. Ready to give it a try?
Want more expert advice on navigating loneliness and connection? Check out our free virtual workshop series, Lonely Together, where experts from the Wondermind Advisory Committee offer insights and exercises to help you feel a little less alone.
Wondermind does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a replacement for medical advice. Always consult a qualified health or mental health professional with any questions or concerns about your mental health.
