What to Say When You Don’t Have Anything to Say

What to Talk About When You Have Nothing to Talk About

Are you wondering what to say when you don’t have anything to say ? People with social anxiety will sometimes find themselves in conversations where they don’t know what to say. It doesn’t matter if the setting is formal or informal, it can still happen. You might even get anxious when someone else is talking because of a fear of what to say when they stop.

When you don’t have anything to say, the best choices are usually asking the other person a question, repeating what was said, saying whatever comes to your mind, or being honest that you have nothing to add. Typically, the situation will dictate the best course of action.

You are not the only one who has experienced this kind of thing! Many people with social anxiety get stuck in their heads before a conversation starts or while it is going on. Keep reading for tips on what to do if this happens to you.

What to Say When You Don’t Have Anything to Say

If you are looking for ideas of what to say when you don’t have anything to say, check out the list below of questions to break the ice.

How are you?

You might have heard this one a lot, but it’s still a good starter for conversations when you don’t know what to say. It doesn’t matter if you already know how the other person is doing or not, it is just a way to say hello.

What are you up to?

This one might have a more specific time frame, but it is still something that can open up a conversation. Even if the other person only says “Not much,” then you’ve at least started talking about what they are doing with their day or night.

What do you think about that?/How do you feel about that?

This one can be a little more personal, but it is still something you can try when you don’t know what to say. It’s relevant if the other person just mentioned something and this also gives them an opportunity to share with you.

How was ___?

This one is kind of similar to the previous one, but it has a little more time frame. You are asking about something that happened in the past, which means you can talk about what they did or how they felt. This also gives them an opportunity to share with you.

What is your favorite ___?

Everyone likes talking about their favorite things and this is a great way to get into that. It might take the conversation in another direction, but it is an easy topic to get started with.

One of the most common things social anxiety sufferers fear is that they will have nothing to say when they are in a conversation. This can cause you to avoid talking or just not try at all. If you find yourself stuck, the list above has plenty of good things to say no matter who you are talking to.

What If Your Mind Goes Blank?

If your mind goes blank when trying to think of what to say next, there are a few things that might be helpful:

• Break eye contact and focus on something else. This will allow you to take a few seconds to gather your thoughts instead of worrying about what to say next.
• If you’re worried about it seeming like you don’t want to talk, you can always say something like, “Can I ask you a question?” This will give you some time to think of what you want to say next while also showing that you are interested in the other person.
• While you might worry about what the other person is thinking, your conversation partner might understand this is an issue for some people and will give you a chance to gather your thoughts. Give them the benefit of the doubt!

How Do You Talk to Someone When You Have Nothing to Say?

If you’re looking for a good way to start a conversation with someone you don’t know that well, here are a few things that might be helpful:

• Do some research on the other person before a conversation starts so you have a few things to talk about depending on what their interests are. For example, if they love sports, bring up a recent game or ask them if they are planning on attending any games soon. If the person is more into music or art, talk about your favorite band or what show you saw last week at an art gallery. A little bit of small talk can go a long way.
• Keep in mind that it’s okay to be quiet sometimes. It does not mean there is something wrong with you if you don’t have much to say during a short conversation. Additionally, it’s not necessary to talk about your day every time you see someone; short exchanges are perfectly fine too.
• If you feel comfortable with the person, take a deep breath and just say whatever comes to your mind first. It might take a while for you to stop worrying about what you’re going to say, but over time this will get easier.
• If someone keeps asking you questions that require more than just a yes or no answer, ask them if they could repeat the question. Sometimes, it’s really hard for people with social anxiety to concentrate on what the other person is saying, so cut yourself some slack.

Do not beat yourself up if you do not know what to say or if your mind goes blank. Over time, the more you talk with people, the more material you will have available to use in conversations down the road.

Is it OK to Have Nothing to Say?

It’s perfectly okay to have nothing to say sometimes. It’s not something to be embarrassed about. Often, those with social anxiety tend to put too much pressure on themselves and worry excessively about not having anything to say.

If the other person is asking you questions or trying to get to know you better, it’s polite to give enough information to keep the conversation going. If you find yourself struggling to think of something more to say, follow the person’s lead by asking them questions about themselves, too.

Social anxiety can be difficult especially when it comes to initiating conversations with other people. The advice given above might not work for everyone, but try to keep these things in mind if you are finding it difficult. It does not mean you are a bad person if you do not know what to say. Like most things, the more you practice talking with other people, the easier it will be.

How Do You Say I Have Nothing to Say?

If you’re looking for a good way to let someone know that you do not have much to say, here are a few things that might be helpful:

• As mentioned above, it’s okay to say that you do not have anything else to talk about. People will understand how difficult it can be for some people. If the other person seems to be uncomfortable with your silence, ask them a question about themselves.
• If you feel comfortable enough to do so, you can also let the person know that it’s difficult for you to talk sometimes because of social anxiety. It might make them more understanding and willing to help you out during those times when your mind goes blank or if you don’t know what to say.

What to Reply When You Have Nothing to Say

How should you reply if you really have nothing to say in response to what someone has said? People with social anxiety often worry that they will not be able to think of something to say and end up feeling like a bad person for not knowing what to say.

This is an issue because most people with social anxiety feel like they need to reply in some way or it will be awkward. Sometimes this leads to them making something up, which might make the other person think they’re lying.

One way to handle this is to say something along the lines of “I’m not going to pretend that I know what you’re talking about” or “I really have no idea.” Realistically, it would likely be less awkward to tell the truth than it would be for someone with social anxiety symptoms to make something up.

1. Relax: Take a deep breath and remind yourself that you’re not going to be judged as harshly as you might think. No one is thinking about how awkward you are, they’re probably thinking about what they’re going to say next.

2. Have a Few Short Responses Ready: If you find yourself struggling to think of something to say, have a few short replies ready to fire back in case the other person doesn’t jump in with their own responses. Pick one or two and practice saying them out loud so that they feel natural to say. For example, you might say “I know what you mean” or “Yes, that’s exactly how I feel.”

3. Ask the Person to Tell You More: This is a good option if you want to engage with someone but have nothing to say in return. If the person seems eager to talk, this might be helpful because they’ll be talking more

4. Praise the Person: When you say something, focus on something positive that your conversation partner says or does instead of dwelling on what they might be thinking about you. If they’re trying to keep the conversation going, it means that they’re not worried about how awkward you are.

5. Repeat Questions When Necessary: If a conversation partner asks a question and you find yourself struggling to come up with an answer, restate the question back before giving your response. This may help jog your memory or you might even be able to remember the answer on your own after repeating it back.

6. Respond Thoughtfully: If someone brings something controversial up and you don’t know how to respond, try repeating what they said and stopping there. Then take a moment to think about the conversation before jumping back in. You can say something like, “Oh yeah? I’ll have to think about that more” or “Interesting. I’m not sure if I agree but thanks for bringing it up.” If someone brings something up like this, they probably want you to think about it. So, using this tactic shows the person that you’re concerned with engaging in conversation rather than just responding habitually.

What to Say When You Have Nothing to Say in a Meeting

What to say when you have nothing to say is a common issue for someone with social anxiety. Meeting people for dinner or coffee is one thing, but going into a business meeting can cause a lot of stress because the stakes are high and you don’t know people very well.

One way of dealing with this problem is to ask questions. If going to a meeting, go with one or two questions prepared ahead of time. Whether you make them up yourself or ask a friend, having questions ready will reduce the feeling of not having anything to say or not contributing.

What to Say When You Have Nothing to Say to a Girl (or Guy)

Having nothing to say is especially difficult if you’re trying to start a conversation with someone of the opposite sex. If you’re an anxious person, it can be nerve-racking because your self-worth might hinge on whether or not they like you.

Below are some things you can say:

• What have you been up to lately?
• How’s your week going? What’s your favorite thing that happened this week?
• You look nice today!
• Why do people [blank]? I’ve always wondered that.
• What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekend?
• Did you have any big plans for the summer break/winter holiday?
• Do you think this weather is nice or too hot/cold? What about other seasons? When’s your favorite season and why?

What to Text When You Don’t Have Anything to Say

When you are in contact with someone but never get the chance to talk face-to-face or voice-to-voice, there will be periods of silence where you both are staring at your phones, trying to think of what to say.

It is normal for there to be pauses in text conversations between people; it does not necessarily mean that something is wrong or awkward, but for many with social anxiety, this can lead them to believe the other person is annoyed with them.

So, is there something you can do about it? What are some good strategies to have in place if you don’t know what to say or text?

Here are a few things that might be helpful for those who don’t know what to text when they don’t have anything to say:

1. Don’t Overthink It: This is probably the most important rule for when you don’t have anything to text; overthinking is always counterproductive, especially when it comes to relationships. So whether you’re receiving a text from someone or sending one out to someone, remind yourself that all you need to do is let the other person know you are thinking about them or miss them.

2. Be Honest: You don’t have to make up things, even if you feel the other person might be expecting something out of you when they send a message. If someone asks how your day went and there’s nothing really going on, tell them that it was pretty normal, or that you are busy with school/work. Honesty is always the best policy, and if someone really cares about you, they will get used to your normal or slightly boring life.

3. Ask for Their Advice: It can be nice to ask someone what they think about something that’s on your mind. If you’re in a long-distance relationship and miss your partner, ask them what they think of a movie you’re thinking about watching or if they have any recommendations. Furthermore, asking for advice is always a good conversation starter; this will help break the ice and give you something to text or talk about next time.

In summary, if you struggle with not knowing what to say because of social anxiety, try to remind yourself that it’s okay not to have anything to say every once in a while. If that’s the case, send a cute picture or heart emoji. People like feeling loved and you don’t need to say anything more than that.

Related Posts About Having Nothing to Say

• 8 Ways to Stop Feeling Self Concious
• 6 Myths About Quiet People
• Is It Normal to Not Talk to Anyone?

WANT TO REMEMBER THIS? SAVE WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING TO SAY TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!

What to Say When You Don’t Have Anything to Say