Not everybody does these things. Not doing them builds quiet resentment in others. This is especially important in places where you work, study, or are a guest.
It’s almost 2026 and no, none of these are “outdated”. They still work and still will long after we’re gone.
If the goal is to get along with people and live an easier life, do yourself a favour and make sure you do them all.
Basic Social Intelligence
- Say please and thank you. Failing to do this makes getting more help less likely as it comes off as arrogant, regardless of the real reason for not saying it.
- Learn people's names and use them when you speak to them. This increases Rapport.
- Say a variation of 'Hello' when you arrive and 'Bye' when you leave. Say ‘I’ll be right back’ if you’re coming back. This acknowledges the other people and respects their need for continuity.
- When introduced to someone, say ‘Nice to meet you [name] ‘ and shake their hand with eye contact. This establishes you have basic awareness of them, that you have basic social intelligence, and opens the door for more rapport.
- Hold the door open for people walking a few feet behind you.
- Don't interrupt someone before they finish making their point.
- Pull your weight with household chores. Just because someone else does it, just because they say they “don’t mind”, doesn’t mean they don’t hate you for not doing it.
Avoid giving people the ‘Ick’
- Clean up after yourself and never litter.
- Cough or Sneeze away from people or into a tissue, never into your hands. This is an instant ick for many people that can never be recovered from.
- Wash your hands every time you use the bathroom. Especially at work. Yes, people notice and they're quietly disgusted. I’ve heard many people talk trash about people they caught not washing their hands.
- We are nose-blind to our own smell. Shower and brush teeth daily. Use antiperspirant or deodorant. By the time you begin to suspect you smell bad, to other people you already absolutely reek.
- Dress appropriately for the setting
- Wear clean clothes only
- Iron your clothes, even if it’s a tracksuit, to increase respectability.
- Don't bring strong-smelling food into the office. If it smells good it's annoying for people trying to work. If it smells bad (to others, not you) that's infinitely worse (see next point)
- (North America and Europe) Bringing ANY form of fish, but especially in a super-strength soup/casserole/curry to the office will piss everyone off in a 10 meter radius.
- Death Sentence: Don't steal other's food from the canteen. There is no coming back from being found out for this.
- Use the smoking area for smoking if you smoke. For every person smoking by the front door everyone has to walk through, there’s a person disgusted by them.
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