2026-04-14 12:19:10

Boring conversations are far more enjoyable than we expect.

Researchers found that people who avoid chats about everyday topics like the weather or commuting may risk losing out on mood-boosting and health benefits, as well as valuable connections.

The study, based on 1,800 volunteers, revealed that even the dullest discussions often turned out to be surprisingly engaging.

Elizabeth Trinh, a PhD candidate in management and organisations at the University of Michigan, said: “A lot of people, myself included, cancel small talk, we dread networking events, and we assume that certain topics like the weather or commuting or our daily routines won’t be interesting.

“But people underestimate how interesting and enjoyable conversations about boring topics will actually be.”

Participants were asked to predict how much they would enjoy discussing topics they considered dull – from onions to the stock market – before actually taking part in short conversations.

Afterwards, they consistently reported enjoying the chats more than expected, even when both people had agreed the topic was boring.

Experts say this is because people focus too much on the subject itself, rather than the connection that forms during a conversation.

Trinh said: “What’s really more important is the engagement, that sense of connection, that you’re feeling heard, you’re responding to one another, and maybe you’re self-disclosing, or discovering details about someone else’s life.”

The findings – published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology – suggest people should rethink how they approach everyday interactions.

She added: “We avoid talking to that co-worker at the coffee machine or that stranger at the event or a neighbour in the elevator.

“But I think people benefit from lowering the bar for what makes a conversation worth having.

“And one approach is to reframe conversational goals. Instead of thinking, ‘Will I enjoy this?’ Maybe think, ‘What will I learn?'”

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