The pressure to chat with every neighbor is bad for my peace of mind

I live in an apartment where people expect you to stop and talk in the hallway every time. It feels like a performance, and it leaves me exhausted. Honestly, we need to normalize just saying hello and moving on without a full conversation. My stress levels drop when I can avoid these drawn-out interactions.

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3 Comments

elizabethh636mo ago

Feel your pain, honestly the forced hallway chats drain me more than awkward small talk ever should.

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quinn_gibson46mo ago

Friend faked a phone alarm to escape a hallway chat.

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laurap716mo ago

My neighborly chat game is weak, to say the least. Last week I spent five minutes discussing the merits of different trash bags just to avoid silence. It made me wish for a universal hand signal that means 'hello, but also goodbye'. Your mileage may vary, but I've found that wearing headphones, even if they're off, can be a lifesaver. Sometimes I think I should just carry a sign that says 'friendly, but tired'.

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