Ok I confess, I people watch like it’s nobody’s business (reason#500 on why I love going to coffee shops)! Truth is, I love the way my brain wanders, tries to tell stories and find out what’s going on – all at the same time.
As a professional people watcher (self-proclaimed!), I’ve put together a few pointers to consider. Here are the many phases of my people watching:
Outfit:
Of course, the fashion lover in me right? But hear me out. An outfit can say so much. From fit to color choices, clothes can correlate with a person’s state of mind.
Body Language – headphones on? Someone’s not interested in talking. Fidgeting? Their attention is worse than yours, and goes beyond just watching people.
Company:
There are two types of people at a coffee shop. The ones who go there to spend time with a friend or confidant. Then there are the ones who go there to avoid people (by being lost among those around them).
Where they prefer to sit:
Middle of the room: “I love the attention or don’t care about being the center of attention”
Close to the window: “Leave me alone. My brain is busy or I simply need to get something specific done.”
Close to the counter: “I may need a snack, refill or simple human interaction quite frequently.”
So next time you’re eager to people watch, know that you’re not alone. I can’t promise you that it’s not creepy, but I can join you at a coffee shop so we can watch together!
