06:00, 27 May 2025
Words by Abi Scaife, Staff Writer, London
It might feel odd to have a week dedicated to conversation, but let’s be honest, when was the last time you had a real conversation with someone? Something deeper than ‘isn’t it sunny now’, and ‘yes I’m alright, how about you’.
When was the last time you sat down and opened up to a friend, family member or loved one about something below the surface?
This National Conversation Week, we’re encouraging you to not just have more conversations, but meaningful conversations - and if that sounds like a lot of pressure, here are a few, easy ways to get started.
Look online and find a randomiser of your choice with conversation starters included - here’s one to kick you off. Use whatever search terms you like, and you’ll get different versions - here’s one that’s a little broader, and here’s another, aimed at kids in school, that has different subcategories.
Hopefully, this will help take the pressure off and you’ll find out some new things about your loved ones!
For romantic partners, we recommend LoveWick, which has plenty of great conversation starter cards and more to help you get down to the nitty gritty of your relationship. It does plenty of other things too, even helping you to remember key dates in your relationship, and inspiring you with fun DIY dates and crafts.
For friends, strangers, and anything in between, apps like Holsom, Party Qs, and GetToKnowMe are all great choices. Bring them out at a party, on a blind date, or for that brand-new best friend you met in a club bathroom when you bonded over needing a tampon, and see where it takes you.
If technology scares you, or your phone storage is too full to download anything else, there’s no reason you can’t do your own analogue version. This has the added benefit of being able to tailor the topics to the people you know and love.
Write down your questions or conversation starters on pieces of paper, turn them over, shuffle the deck, and then pull one out at random. No swapsies!
National Conversation Week is about more than just speaking - it’s about putting effort into your conversations, digging deep, and opening up. It can be uncomfortable and messy, but ultimately will help to strengthen your relationships and can even lead to real change.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Campaign to End Loneliness. This charity campaigns to make sure that people most at risk of loneliness are reached and supported. Support them here.
Samaritans. Samaritans works to make sure there's always someone there for anyone who needs someone. Find out more here.
Ripple Suicide Prevention. R;pple exists to ensure immediate mental health support is presented to individuals following a harmful online search. Learn more here.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Good Health and Wellbeing.
