Questions To Start A Conversation With Someone That Aren’t ‘How Was Your Day?’
"How was your day?" is a common question to ask someone at the end the day, which some relationship experts say is the problem. It's such a common question that it becomes a part of our routine, and you never dive past the surface with your answers.
Whether you're trying to start a conversation with that new guy you're talking to on Tinder, or talking to your long-term girlfriend, here are some questions to ask someone that aren't the typical line.
Did You Read Anything Interesting Today?
In a world where we're constantly consuming content, there must be at least one thing that they read about today or learned that you didn't.
Now they can tell you about it, and you'll both be wiser.
What Was The Best Song You Listened To?
Did they discover a new band that they think you'll like too?
Or did they listen to the new Ariana Grande album on repeat for yet another day because they're obsessed with it?
Did Anyone Annoy You Today?
In an ideal world, none of us would ever get annoyed by the people around us, but that's not realistic.
Let them air their grievances and share what or who annoyed them.
How Did You Help Someone Else?
No matter how small the act, anyone can feel a little bit of pride at the end of the day by remembering that they were able to help someone else in some way.
Besides, these are the type of things you want to know about someone.
If We Could Leave On A Vacation Tomorrow, Where Would You Go?
Who doesn't love the opportunity to daydream a little bit?
Maybe a real vacation plan will stem from this question depending on how seriously you take it or how long you end up discussing it!
Did Anything Surprise You Today?
You might not be a fan of surprises, whether they're good or bad, but it's good to have a little mystery in life.
If something managed to surprise you, that means you learned something or broke away from your normal day, even if just for a few moments.
What Do You Wish You Did More/Less Of?
You don't necessarily have control over everything you do in a day, but looking in general at what you do and deciding what you don't enjoy or what you loved is important.
It will help them make better decisions in the future.
Did You Feel Appreciated Today?
Everyone wants to end their day knowing that they're appreciated by the people around them, but that isn't always the case.
This question lets you know how your partner or friend is feeling, but it also lets you check in with yourself.
How Can I Make Your Day Easier?
This one can go together with the previous question, because if someone didn't feel appreciated that day, maybe you're in a position to make them feel better now!
You never know.
What App Did You Open Most Today?
Did they spend the entire day frantically checking the New York Times app to see if there was any breaking news, or did they need to tune out the world that day so they had Apple Music running all afternoon?
Are they someone who loves their social media and was always opening Instagram and Facebook?
Did You Run Into Anyone You Know?
Maybe they ran into an old colleague or ducked down a side street when they saw someone they went to high school with walking towards them.
It'll make for a good retelling later on.
What Made You Laugh Today?
There could be some funny office shenanigans that took place, or maybe they watched a funny video that they want to share with you so you could share in their joy.
Bringing up those good feelings again will feel great for both of you.
What Did You Have For Lunch Today?
A follow-up to this one could also be, "what do you wish you had for lunch today?" if they had a particularly bland ham sandwich for their lunch that day.
Everyone has something to say about the food they eat!
Who Would You Cast To Star In A Movie About Your Day?
You could assign some deeper meaning to this one, but really, it's just a fun way to get someone thinking about their day in a different way than the basic way we're all used to.
Who knows, you might even get a great movie recommendation out of it.
How Much Coffee Did You Drink Today?
If coffee isn't their thing, you could swap it for tea, water, pop, whatever they're known for drinking a lot of, or maybe what they're trying to cut back on consuming so much of.
See if they're sticking to their promise of drinking only one cup of coffee and a gallon of water a day.
Would You Redo Any Part Of Your Day?
This is a good moment for reflection.
You can't have a do-over day, but you'll probably run into the same scenarios another day as you did today, so they can consider how to handle it next time.
Did You Take Any Photos Today? Of What?
If you're lucky, maybe they met a super cute puppy at their lunch break and took a picture but forgot to send it to you, so now's the chance for them to share.
Who doesn't want more pictures of dogs in their life?
Tell Me About The Worst Part Of Your Day—In Just Two Minutes
If someone had a bad day, chances are they're going to want to talk about it, or at least part of it. The key is to set the time limit—not because you don't care enough to listen longer, but because you want to set a limit for them.
Don't let them wallow in the bad moments of the day for too long.
What Superpower Could've Helped You Today?
Maybe if you had been invisible, you wouldn't have been pulled into that boring meeting, or if you had the ability to read minds, you would have been able to know exactly what your friend was thinking and you would have avoided that argument.
Sometimes it's fun to daydream.
What're You Looking Forward To Tomorrow?
If today wasn't a good day, focus on the future and think about what could be great about tomorrow.
There is always something to look forward to, even if that day wasn't particularly exciting.
What's Something You're Grateful To Have Been Apart Of Today?
It's nice to look back on their day and recall the things that made them happy.
Maybe they helped train a new employee or visited a new coffee shop on its opening day to support them.
What Did You Do That Made You The Proudest Today?
Life is all about celebrating your accomplishments, the ones that are big and small.
Asking them what they accomplished today that made them proud will help them reflect on the smaller accomplishments like finishing a project or getting a chore done that they'd been putting off.
Did You Learn Anything New Today?
Learning happens every day, whether we notice it or not.
It doesn't always have to be some neat trivia or a grand realization. Maybe they just learned a shortcut home from work.
Did You Get Any Compliments Today?
Give them the chance to brag about themselves a little bit.
Did someone notice their cute outfit or hairstyle? Did a boss tell them they did a great job on something?
Did You Make Any Good Connections Today?
Any kind of connection a person makes is intriguing, even if it is a small one.
Maybe they had a genuine chat with a barista or a deep emotional connection with a dog they saw while walking.
What Was The Highlight Of Your Day?
Being thankful for one thing a day will help you stay in a positive mindset.
Asking someone what the highlight of their day was will make them think about what that moment was. It could even change their outlook on their day.
How Are You Going To Unwind Today?
They might not even know how they're going to relax. Asking them how they're going to unwind will bring that thought to the front of their mind and force them to consider slowing down.
No one should be on the go all the time.
What Is One Thing You'd Like To Change About Your Day?
This question could help someone make smarter choices about their day.
Maybe they're upset they didn't have time for a morning coffee. They can change that by setting their alarm a little earlier.
Do You Have Any Regrets About Today?
Hopefully, someone's day isn't full of regrets, but it's good to stop and consider if there were any.
It might lead them to see an issue they need to address that they hadn't noticed before.
Did You Learn Anything About Yourself Today?
People are constantly learning and growing, but sometimes they don't always see it.
Maybe they learned that they don't like a certain kind of pen, or perhaps they learned something more serious like they don't love their job.
