While some may call me a weirdo or a stalker for this very uncanny, almost eerie hobby, there’s a lot more to be said about it than the name implies. So to save face, let me detail what “People Watching” even entails before I get the cops called on me…
Whenever I’m bored, out somewhere I don’t really wanna be, or zoning out in a public place, classroom, etc., I begin to watch the people around me. Whether they’re all the way across a mall, or sitting right in front of me in a class, I track every small movement or detail from them.
And then, I let my imagination run wild. I basically make up scenarios or stories about them based on this one minuscule moment in their life. I imagine a random guy I glance at in the mall is picking out a gift for a significant other. I imagine the kid in front of me, secretly texting during class, is going through a major breakup, or maybe the random lady who served me Starbucks this morning is actually saving up to pursue her dreams in acting or singing.
Obviously, I don’t really know these people, and these guesses about their lives couldn’t be further from the truth (or closer, who knows?). It’s not like these guesses are meant to be accurate, but rather a way to express your creativity and think or explore outside the box, especially when you’re bored.
I personally love people watching because it gives me needed breaks when I’m stuck on an assignment or have been studying for way too long. It gives me a boost of energy I need to keep going or ideas for stories or essays I’m writing.
It’s also just a simple way to have fun or to make the best of your situation in the most ordinary places. Especially in a world so interconnected by social media and the internet, it’s also a great way to get a break from your phone and do something that doesn’t involve doomscrolling or staring at a screen for hours at a time.
Sometimes, I even get my friends into this hobby, and we people-watch together. It really gives us the chance to talk more and interact instead of spending another hangout on our phones. It helps create a stronger bond with the people close to me when we watch someone and make up their entire life story together.
So when you’re bored and have nothing to do, turn your trivial day into something more fun-filled and pick up people watching!