Overthinking “hi.” The social anxiety Olympics, level one: simply greeting someone. For years, the simple act of saying “hi” was fraught with internal debate. Too enthusiastic? Too casual? Too loud? Too quiet? Did I make eye contact for the right amount of time? Was my tone friendly enough? The mental gymnastics required for a single syllable were exhausting.
Then, I decided to adopt the “Just Say Hi” rule. No analysis, no second-guessing, just…say it. See someone you know? “Hi.” Walk past a colleague? “Hi.” Cashier at the store? “Hi.” Treat “hi” like a verbal reflex, like sneezing or blinking. Automatic, effortless, and devoid of overthinking.
It wasn’t about suddenly becoming a social butterfly, but about simplifying social interactions. “Just Say Hi” became my mental shortcut to bypass the overthinking vortex. It turned greetings from anxiety-inducing performances into simple, automatic exchanges. The overthinking didn’t vanish overnight, but it lessened. The mental load lightened. “Hi” became just “hi.” And sometimes, simplicity is the key to social sanity. Just say hi. And move on.