People-ing...This Explains So Much

There are days when conversations feel heavier than they should. You’re smiling, nodding, answering questions, and doing your best to stay present. Meanwhile, your energy left the room an hour ago. That’s peopling: trying to keep up with human interaction when you feel like you’ve got nothing left in the tank.

So What Exactly Is People-ing?

Depending on who you ask, it can mean:

• Tolerating people (and yourself). Urban Dictionary says it’s “the ability to tolerate people and their stupidity, as well as your own.” (Harsh, but not inaccurate.)

• Simply socializing. A friendlier version defines it as “spending time with people.” “I spent all day peopling” works fine here.

• Loving people, just because. An optimistic corner of the internet says peopling is the act of loving people. Honestly, wouldn’t it be refreshing if that’s the definition we claimed more often?

Why It’s Resonating Now

Because life is…a lot.
Digital fatigue, introversion, social anxiety, pandemic-era habits—all of it has reshaped how we interact. These days, people-ing feels like an Olympic sport. Even extroverts sometimes whisper, “I’m done peopling for today.”

It’s the word that captures our era: a mash-up of humor and honesty. People-ing offers an elegant shorthand for those awkward, exhausting—or magical—moments of human contact. Sometimes they fill us up, sometimes they wear us out, and sometimes they do both in the very same afternoon.

There are three kinds of people-ing I've noticed over the years:

• Survival Mode People-ing
  That’s when you plaster on your “I’m totally fine” smile, nod in the right places, and silently remind yourself not to roll your eyes so hard you sprain something. You people just enough to make it through the meeting, the party, or that family reunion where everyone suddenly has strong opinions about your life choices.

• Joyful People-ing
  Time with friends that flies by, cheeks hurting from laughter, leaving you lighter and brighter. This is the kind of connection that reminds us why people matter.

• Nope People-ing
  Technically, this is not peopling at all. This is when you cancel plans, slip into comfy clothes, and recharge. And let’s be clear—that’s not failure. That’s advanced-level self-care.

  A Few Tips for the People-ing Weary

• Start small. Little gestures—a smile at the cashier, holding the door, waving at a neighbor—can count as people-ing without draining your energy.

• Pay attention to your energy. Notice which interactions leave you feeling lighter and which leave you feeling depleted. That awareness helps you set better rhythms.

• Give yourself permission to pause. Stepping outside, taking a breath, or carving out quiet time can help you recharge so you return with more ease.

We don’t always get peopling right. Some days we nail it, other days we retreat under a blanket. And that’s okay. Because at the end of the day, we’re all just figuring out how to people—sometimes gracefully, sometimes awkwardly—but always, thankfully, together.