The small talk has a job to do
Halfway through the morning, you'll pass someone you always nod at: the neighbour, the shop regular, the person at the parcel counter. Today the chat wants to be more than a nod, and there's something worth saying to them. You're in a restless mood, so keep it short and warm, not a whole new plan. Repair an old thread with them rather than starting something shiny. It's a two-minute conversation with a longer payoff.






