Do you talk to yourself?
Benefits of Talking to Yourself
Talking to yourself can have a number of benefits. Some of these include:
Reflection
Talking to yourself can be a useful way to gain some distance from your own experiences. It allows you to reflect on the things that are happening in your life. By providing you some distance, it can be a great way to see things more objectively.
It can minimize the immediate emotion and knee-jerk feelings you might have in the moment so that you can see things in a clearer, more rational way.
Motivation
Talking to yourself can also be motivating. Consider the times you've hyped yourself up to face a challenge by telling yourself "I can do this" or "You've got this." Such thoughts can be useful when you keep them inside, but externalizing such ideas can often be even more motivating.
One study in athletes found that self-talk not only helped them perform better, it also seemed related to how much fun they had playing the game.4
Better Memory
If you've ever talked to yourself as you roam the aisles of the grocery store, don't fret—research has shown it might actually help you better remember the items on your list.
In one older study, participants had to search for items in a store without saying anything.5 During the second phase of the experiment, the participants were told to repeat the names of the items they were looking for as they searched. The results showed that those who talked to themselves found it easier to find what they were looking for.
According to the researchers, by talking to themselves, the participants improved their memory and created a stronger association between the words they were saying and the visual targets they were seeking.
Problem-Solving
Talking to yourself can also be a way to work through problems you might be facing. This tactic, known as self-explaining, can help people monitor their progress and improve their performance as they work through a problem.
Spending a few moments talking to yourself can give you the time you need to really focus and reflect on the problem and all of your options.
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