Top 9 ways to avoid being boring

By Maria Kyriacou

Top 9 ways to avoid being boring
Study reveals best ways to stop boring your family and friends.

Social psychologist Mark Leary and his research team have conducted a series of studies into how people bore each other.

The research paper titled Boredom in interpersonal encounters: Antecedents and social implications asked participants to describe things that people do, that they found boring.

From these responses, the researchers were able to curate a list of 43 yawn-inducing behaviours, which they then used to create the nine categories of ultra boredom.

See the list below, beginning with the most tedious:

  1. Negative egocentrism – If you want to avoid this list-topping behaviour try not to constantly talk in a negative way about your problems. 
  2. Banality – Don’t talk about superficial topics ad nauseum. Repeating the same old jokes or stories is a surefire way to get your friends and family members rolling their eyes.
  3. Low affectivity – Be enthusiastic! Talk in an animated way with expression in your face.
  4. Tediousness – “Talking slowly, pausing a long time before responding, taking a long time to make one’s points, and dragging conversations on.” Get on with it!
  5. Passivity – Don’t be afraid to have opinions, as people find it boring if you’re always agreeing with them.
  6. Self-preoccupation – Me! Me! Me-itis is a scourge I tell you! Careful not to talk “at” people all about yourself. Occasionally show an interest in what the person you’re talking to has to say.  
  7. Seriousness – We all want to appear smart, but it’s okay to relax and not be too earnest. Don’t forget to smile too. 
  8. Boring ingratiation – “Trying to be funny or nice in order to impress other people.” We all know how awkward this can feel when it’s happening 
  9. Distraction – Focus on your conversation, and avoid getting sidetracked or doing things that might interfere with your interaction. 

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