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I keep my headphones in pretty much at all times so people don't interrupt me when I'm trying to work. When the small talk is impossible to avoid, I'll just smile and nod for a few minutes until it feels socially acceptable for me to invent an excuse to leave. I like my coworkers, but I really don't have the time to waste chit chatting with them.
I FEEELL THIS. I've hated small talk since I started working. No I don't care what you did this weekend, I'd rather get what we need to done. I think some small talk is fine like "how are you?" But I don't want to hear about your kids again and the new grass you're putting in. And I have kids lol. Small talk is fine once all the work is done but if there's work to do, let's get to it. If they start small talk with me I will answer short answers and not really ask any questions hoping they get hint.
I'm with R1, headphones. I make a whole production about having to stop my music, pull my earbud out, and say "Sorry, what did you say?" Every time they want to tell me some other fun fact about their breakfast, or whatever. Eventually people get the hint!
Finally someone that gets it! I cant do small talk especially on Mondays or when you just came back from a vacation. I keep it very brief and start walking towards my office.