Q&A for How to Tell if You Talk Too Much

There's nothing wrong with talking about yourself if your friends are asking you questions. Try turning it around and asking them some questions. When they ask you something, end your response with "...what about you?" or "...what do you think?"

Just stop talking. Say hello politely and move on unless you absolutely have to talk to that person. Its always better to wait for the person to talk to you because you can never tell if he/she is in a good mood or not.

Ask your family or good friends to be honest with you when they hear you talking to yourself. You can also try recording yourself.

I'd say that the first step is to try to catch yourself when you're doing it. Then simply say something like, "Oh, well that's off-topic, so we don't have to go there." Once you feel you've answered the question, instead of veering off-topic, you could say, "Does that answer your question?" If so, great. If their answer is no, then they can ask follow-up questions for greater understanding.

Whenever you feel like you're talking too much, ask him some open-ended questions that require him to talk.

When you're about to speak, stop and ask yourself whether what you are going to say is necessary, polite, and appropriate. Remind yourself of the consequences of talking too much, you could get a detention, suspension, etc. Is your comment worth getting punished over?

Be the leader. When everyone is talking in your class, you don't. If they're talking while the teacher is talking, then just say something like "Guys, can you please be quiet? I'm trying to listen." If it doesn't stop, then talk to your teacher.

This can go twp ways. If you don't have a serious crush on her, let it be. If you do, tell her that she can trust you. Tell her that you trust her. You can even tell her one of your secrets to be open with her. About the "talking too much" thing, I suggest that you ask her why she does not like it and try to fix it.

Look into the other person's eyes and nod every once in a while. Look away occasionally to focus on what the other person is actually saying (sometimes this is hard to do when you're making eye contact).

Gardening, favorite memories, most embarrassing stories, jobs you had growing up, favorite books and movies, favorite trips, etc.

Have you tried journaling? Whenever you want to talk, write it down instead! It can help develop your writing skills, thinking process, and can actually boost your confidence. If there is no one around, try talking to yourself, as it has the same effect as writing. If people forget what you talked about, there is a chance it was about you more than it was them. Try being a better listener around people.

The "gift of gab" is one of those things that, if it's flagrant and not realized on your side, can make everything in your life from dating to getting a speeding ticket a lot harder than it needs to be. On the other side of that, if you do realize it, and spend some time honing, polishing, and practicing, it can set you apart from everyone else! What I mean by honing and polishing is taking all that meaningless small talk you're so good at spewing and converting it into witty, comical conversation that people will want more of. You need to study humans, read up on body language, micro-expressions, emotions, etc.

It's okay to express what you are feeling and talk. Maybe you could make new friends and talk to them or, if you don't have anyone to talk to, you could write what you feel.

Before you say anything, think. Is it: Kind? Necessary? Correct?

You're going to have to impose some silence on yourself. Ask questions, listen to their answers, and don't be afraid of some silence in a conversation, no matter how awkward you feel. Resist the urge to fill these silences, especially with real, personal stuff. Talk about the weather, the world championship, exam results, summer plans - or about nothing. Or not at all.

Tell him he complains too much and that you can talk as much as you want.

This sounds like a problem with compulsive behavior. If you've tried stopping and you really can't, I suggest you consult a mental health professional. Talk to your doctor, they should be able to refer you to someone.

It can be fixed but it takes time, practice, and a lot of effort. Ask other people questions, and teach yourself to listen, really listen, to their response. Also, try watching someone else who talks all the time. It will help you to see how annoying it is, which can help you to want to stop more. Also, getting a friend and/or sibling to help is beneficial. They can give you a discreet hand signal when you are talking too much.