Greg Chaffins 
Let’s address the obvious. Talking to yourself has a bit of a reputation problem.
If you’re doing it quietly in your car, you’re “thinking out loud.”
If you’re doing it in the grocery store cereal aisle, you’re suddenly “a person of interest.”
But here’s the twist: science is increasingly suggesting that talking to yourself isn’t weird – it’s actually useful. Possibly even make you smarter.
So if you’ve ever muttered, “Where did I put my keys?” or given yourself a full motivational speech before doing something mildly inconvenient, congratulations. You may not be losing it. You may be optimizing your brain.
Your Brain Loves a Good Narrator
Your brain is constantly processing information, making decisions, and trying to keep track of everything you’re doing. Which, to be fair, is a lot.
When you talk to yourself, you’re essentially turning your internal thoughts into external language. And that does something important – it adds structure. Instead of vague, swirling thoughts like:
“Okay, I need to do… something… what was it again…”
You get:
“Find keys. Grab wallet. Leave house. Try not to forget why you walked into the kitchen.”
Suddenly, your brain has a clear, organized plan. It’s like upgrading from mental chaos to a narrated documentary.
It Boosts Focus (Yes, Really)
One of the most fascinating things about self-talk is how it affects attention. Studies have shown that saying something out loud can actually help you focus on it.
For example, if you’re looking for something – like your phone, which is probably in your hand – saying the object’s name out loud can make it easier to find. Why?
Because speaking engages additional parts of your brain. You’re not just thinking – you’re hearing, processing, and reinforcing the information. It’s like highlighting text in your own mind.
So when you say, “Keys, keys, keys…” while wandering around your house, you’re not being dramatic. You’re running a search function.
Memory: Now With Sound Effects
Talking to yourself can also improve memory. When you say something out loud, it creates multiple pathways in your brain:
- You think it
- You say it
- You hear it
That’s three layers of reinforcement instead of one. This is why people often remember things better when they read them aloud or repeat them verbally. Your brain basically goes:
“Oh, this must be important – they said it out loud.”
And suddenly, it gets filed somewhere slightly more accessible than “lost forever.”
Self-Talk = Built-In Coaching System To Make You Smarter
Here’s where things get interesting. The way you talk to yourself can influence how you perform. Athletes do this all the time. Before a big moment, they’ll say things like:
“Stay focused.”
“You’ve got this.”
“Don’t trip over your own feet.”
(Okay, maybe not that last one, but you get the idea.)
This kind of self-talk acts like a mental coach. It guides your behavior, reinforces goals, and keeps you on track. Even in everyday life, a quick “Alright, let’s do this” can shift your mindset from reluctant to ready. It’s not magic – it’s your brain responding to direction.
The Third-Person Trick (Yes, It Gets Weird)
If talking to yourself in general feels odd, wait until you hear this: Talking to yourself in the third person might be even more effective. Instead of saying, “I can handle this,” you say:
“Okay, Greg, you’ve got this.” (Yes, using your own name. Stay with me.)
Research suggests this creates a small psychological distance, making it easier to manage stress and make better decisions. It’s like stepping outside your own head and giving yourself advice as if you were someone else.Which, if you think about it, is exactly what you’d do for a friend.
And let’s be honest – you give much smarter advice to other people than you do to yourself.
Why It Feels Weird (But Works Anyway)
So if talking to yourself is so helpful, why does it feel… awkward? Because socially, we’ve decided that speech is supposed to be directed at other people. When you break that rule, it stands out. But internally, your brain doesn’t care about social norms. It cares about efficiency.
And from a purely functional standpoint, self-talk is incredibly efficient.
It organizes thoughts.
It boosts focus.
It improves memory.
It guides behavior.
That’s a pretty solid résumé for something we pretend not to do.
When Self-Talk Goes Wrong
Of course, not all self-talk is helpful. If your internal dialogue sounds like a harsh critic – “Why would you do that?” or “That was a terrible idea” – it can actually work against you.
Your brain listens to that too. So the goal isn’t just to talk to yourself – it’s to talk to yourself well. Think less “angry commentator,” more “supportive but slightly sarcastic coach.” Something like:
“Well, that didn’t go as planned… but we’re not giving up now.”
Smarter, not perfection.
You’re Already Doing It
Here’s the funniest part of all this: You already talk to yourself. All the time. Most of it just happens silently, inside your head. The only difference with out-loud self-talk is that it adds an extra layer of clarity and reinforcement.
So you’re not adopting a new habit – you’re just turning up the volume on something your brain already does. Which is significantly less weird when you think about it that way.
Embrace the Conversation
Talking to yourself isn’t a glitch. It’s a tool. A surprisingly powerful, slightly underappreciated tool that can help you think more clearly, focus better, and maybe even make smarter decisions.
So the next time you catch yourself saying, “Okay, what was I doing?” out loud, don’t worry.You’re not losing your mind. You’re just… consulting with the expert. And conveniently, the expert is always available.
Even if they occasionally forget where the keys are.
