Be honest: when you make small talk, are you genuinely interested, or often just going through the motions?

A natural way to answer

It ebbs and flows. When I'm tired, I catch myself running on autopilot, asking the right questions without truly listening. But when I make a conscious effort to be present, even the most run-of-the-mill exchange can turn into something genuinely warm.

Key phrases to use

• go through the motions — do something mechanically without real interest or feeling“I was just going through the motions at the party.”
• a million miles away — completely distracted and not paying attention“Sorry, I was a million miles away.”
• check out — stop paying attention or mentally disengage“I'd completely checked out by the second story.”
• run-of-the-mill — ordinary and unremarkable“It was a run-of-the-mill chat about the weather.”