II firmly believe in, It’s okay as long as you don’t ARGUE with yourself!
My boss sits in the cubicle behind me and every one in a while will comment on how it’s cute that I talk and sing to myself. I explained that when I’m singing, especially a particular Korean song, that means I’m really stressed.
Another work stress relief is to think of something funny and I’ll sometimes let out an audible laugh to myself.
I’m a guy and have been living by myself for the last 5 years, and other than at work or if I go shopping, don’t talk to anyone except occasionally to myself.
The other day, I was watching a Korean variety show and found one of the guests really pretty. I was sure I knew who she was, but just couldn’t place her. When she finally introduced herself, I yelled out at the top of my lungs, YENA (Choi Ye Na from IZ*ONE and literally laughed out loud for 30 seconds!.
It’s OK if you argue with yourself, too – as long as you listen to all sides of the argument.
It’s not always OK to do it out loud. If you’re in a situation that calls for quiet, or if you’re supposed to be listening to somebody else, or if you’re freaking out others in the vicinity, it can be a problem. But that’s because you’re causing a distraction or being unreasonably distracted, not because of the specific way you’re doing so.
I don’t talk to myself so much as just think out loud. Kind of narrating my life. I retired right before covid hit and suddenly I was alone 24/7. I think I started doing it mostly to break up the silence. It was weird not to have people to talk to all the time.
I do, but mostly just in my head. But I frequently talk to the things I’m working with. Like, I’ll tell the difficult object, " Nope, I win." I’m a carpenter, so I’ll say measurements out loud so I remember them.
I frequently go days without saying a word to anyone except myself.
I miss talking to my dog. He got cancer 6 months ago.
I talk to myself. I make bargains with myself, too. “If I clean the kitchen, then I can sitdown and read for a half hour.”
I lie to myself. If there is something to be done that I detest, I’ll tell myself I only have to do 50% of the work for now. Then, when I’m elbows deep in the mess, I end up saying, “Oh, Hell, I’ll just finish it.”
I also yell and stomp my feet and run around in circles, after I complete the chore.
And I come from an entire house full of people who argue with the TV. Does that count?
I like to sing along to music, talk back at the TV [but not at a movie theater, that is just rude unless it is expected like Rocky Horror] and I not only hold conversations with myself, I hold conversations with my stoma P’tit Joey. [well, he farts and I use that as the basis of his part of the conversation. If it is really loud or smelly, mrAru will converse with him as well. ]
I do. My family thinks I’m weird. But we all knew that already.
On the bright side, I think it helps with the creative process. You say something almost unconsciously…then hear it as if someone else is saying it…then you react, and realize that what you said might have some value.
Works particulary well with funny stuff, I find. So then I’m chuckling to myself…and again my family starts whispering “at least he’s entertaining himself.”
