“Man Rear-Ends Himself With His Other Car”: 32 Times People Witnessed Comedy Gold In The Wild

If you've ever sat in a public place and simply observed the people around you, you might know it can be quite entertaining. But did you know that people-watching also has some great mental health benefits and can help to sharpen your emotional intelligence?

Whether you're at an airport, a mall, in a coffee shop, at work, or chilling on a park bench, watching others go about their business is an opportunity to disconnect from the fast-paced, digital world we live in, be present in the moment, relieve stress and learn a few valuable lessons.

According to Eila Mikkonen, a Wellbeing Specialist and owner and founder of Balanced N Powerful, some of people-watching can teach you to appreciate the uniqueness in others, help get your mind off your own problems, relieve stress and calm down, be more mindful and present in the given moment, allow your mind to wander and your imagination to run wild, inspire you to take action in your own life, and find some version of yourselves in others.

Mikkonen suggests picking a spot that's not deserted, then being attentive and actively observing people. "Perhaps focus on an individual. Or you might want to look at families or small groups," says the expert. "Pay attention to things like body language, gestures and facial expressions. What are people wearing? Do they seem talkative? Can you figure out their mood? Are they happy or sad?"

Mikonnen adds that you should pay close attention to what bothers you about other people. "Could this be a quality you don’t like in yourself? Often, the things we dislike in others are actually the things we dislike in ourselves. Everyone and everything around you is a mirror," she explains.

She also said it's interesting to observe how people around you behave in certain situations. "For example, when they see a homeless person? Do they acknowledge the person in some way? Or do they avoid eye contact and walk a little faster?"

Write things down, suggests the expert, and reflect on your observations later.

Former FBI special agent Kathy Stearman says watching people helped her excel in her career. As a child, she would observe her mother and siblings "orbit" around her father. "One little word or movement from him would make everybody sort of scatter," she writes.

Stearman learned that you can pick up a lot about someone without them even saying a word. You can tell if they're happy, sad, or angry. "I knew my mom was angry, for example, when she mashed her lips together and her mouth became this little slit," reveals the expert.

When she grew up, Stearman loved to sit in an airport and watch the other passengers. "I could do it for hours," she says. "Whenever I had a long layover, I’d think, 'Aw, I get to people-watch!' You can learn so much about people if you just observe," the former FBI special agent and author wrote.

According to Stearman, something as simple as a pair of shoes or an item of clothing can give clues to what country someone is from.

Stearman's love for people-watching came in handy during investigations. She says she would ask suspects questions that she already knew the answer to, without them realizing it.

"Then I could identify what they did when they told the truth and what they did when they lied," she reveals. "Some people moved a lot when telling a lie—they moved their body in the chair or their hand motions became more frequent. Others became very still, almost immobile, and looked me straight in the eye, as if trying to convince me they were sincere."