Reflection
Small conversations are unavoidable; they are also negotiable. You don't have to perform or overshare to be kind. Recognizing that a brief exchange is a choice, not an obligation, gives you the power to shape it.
Keep a handful of gentle scripts ready: a warm compliment, a neutral topic shift, or a succinct exit line. Practice them until they feel natural so they reduce friction when your threshold is low.
Boundaries can be both firm and friendly. Setting clear time limits, using body language to signal openness or closure, and following up later when you have more energy are all ways to honor yourself without alienating others.