How to Give a Clear Life Update in English

“Nothing much.”

It is a very common answer to What’s new with you?, and it can make the listener think: Really? Nothing? Compare it with:

“Nothing major. Right now, I’m preparing for a short course at work.”

The second answer says life is steady, and it still gives the other person something to ask about. That is the whole skill of a life update: a small amount of new information that helps this person understand your life now. This lesson gives you five phrases with different jobs, what to say when little has changed, how to correct old information, dialogues, and practice with answers.

They already have an old picture

When you meet someone for the first time, the question is “Who are you?” When you meet someone who knows you, the question is “What has changed since we last talked?” The other person has an old picture of your life. You do not need to explain your job from zero. You need to update the picture.

Situation	What to give
A new person asks about you	basic facts: name, work or study, where you are from
An old friend asks, “What have you been doing lately?“	one or two things that are new, one current focus
A former coworker asks, “Are you still working downtown?“	what is still true and what changed

If you repeat your name and job to someone who already knows them, it is not bad English. It just wastes your first sentence.

Five tools, five jobs

You do not need all of them every time. Choose the ones that fit.

Phrase	Its job	You can say
These days, I…	a picture of your current life	These days, I’m cooking more at home.
Recently, I started…	shows a new change	Recently, I started a Saturday morning yoga class.
One thing that’s new is…	highlights one update	One thing that’s new is I moved closer to work.
I’m still…	shows what has not changed	I’m still working at the same company.
Right now, I’m…	your current focus	Right now, I’m helping with a new project at work.

Put them together:

These days, I’m working from home three days a week. Recently, I started a shorter online course. I’m still living in the same neighborhood. Right now, I’m getting used to my new schedule.

To close a short update, you can say So that’s what’s new with me. Then leave space. The other person may ask a question, or share their own update. You do not have to control the next turn. You also do not need this phrase every time. A real person may ask a follow-up before you get there.

When little has changed

Life can be quite steady, and that is fine. Most life updates are not dramatic. Say that life is stable, then add one current detail.

• Nothing major. Right now, I’m preparing for a short course at work.
• Things are pretty similar. I’m still at the same job, and recently I started running on weekends.
• These days, I’m cooking more at home.

Nothing major lets you say that life is stable without closing the conversation. Compare it with Nothing much, which can make the listener think, “Really? Nothing?”

When the old picture is wrong

Sometimes the other person remembers something that is no longer true. Your goal is not to prove them wrong. Your goal is to update the information.

The other person says	You can say
”You’re still studying at the same school, right?”	Actually, one thing that’s new is I finished that course. Right now, I’m studying online.
”You’re still working in the downtown office, right?”	I’m still with the same company, but I don’t work downtown every day now. These days, I work from home three days a week.
”I remember you were thinking about a business course.”	I changed my plan. Recently, I started a shorter online course instead. It fits my schedule better.

Avoid No, you are wrong. I finished. It is grammatically possible but stronger than you need in a friendly conversation. Compare: I actually finished that course. These days, I’m studying online.

Start event or current situation?

Use	When	Example
Recently, I started… (simple past)	you are telling the start of a change	Recently, I started an evening design course.
These days, I’m… (present continuous)	you are describing your current life	These days, I’m taking an evening design course.

They are two views of the same thing. You do not have to force one tense into every sentence. For a short rule to choose between the two tenses, see Present Simple or Present Continuous? Routine vs Right Now. Watch the small errors: Recently, I am start a course becomes Recently, I started a course. And if the change matters, I moved to a new apartment recently tells the story more clearly than I have a new apartment.

Choose two or three details

Too many details are a problem of selection, not grammar. Ask: which detail changes the listener’s understanding of my life?

Too much	A better choice
I moved, and my neighbor has a dog, and the elevator is slow, and I bought new cups, and the bus stop is across the street…	I moved closer to work, so my commute is shorter.
Nothing much.	Nothing major. Right now, I’m preparing for a short course at work.

A simple pattern: new thing, then one useful detail. For example: Recently, I started an evening design course. We meet twice a week. Not five details. Choose two or three updates that matter in this conversation.

Three catch-up scenes

Catching up with a classmate

Classmate: Hey! I haven’t seen you since the course ended. How have you been?
You: Pretty good, thanks. These days, I’m working a little earlier, so my evenings feel different.
Classmate: Oh, really? Why did your schedule change?
You: Our team has a new client in another time zone. Recently, I started work at eight instead of nine on three days a week.
Classmate: That is a real update. And what are you doing with the earlier evenings?
You: Right now, I’m taking a design course twice a week. One thing that’s new is I’m making a small poster project for the final class.

Is the old picture still true?

Classmate: Are you still living near the station?
You: No, that changed too. I moved closer to my office two months ago. I’m still in the same part of the city, though.

A café, six months later

Friend: Hey! It’s so good to see you. What have you been doing lately?
You: These days, I’m working from home more often. I go to the office three days a week now.
Friend: Oh, that’s different. When did that start?
You: Recently, my team changed our schedule. I actually like the new routine.
Friend: And outside work? Anything new?
You: Right now, I’m taking a beginner photography class on Saturday mornings.
Friend: Nice. Are you still living near the river?
You: Yes, I’m still in the same neighborhood. I like it there, so I have no plan to move.

Five ways an update goes wrong

• Do not re-introduce yourself to someone who already knows your name and job.
• Do not say only Nothing much if something small is true. Add one current detail.
• Do not give every detail. Two or three updates are enough.
• Do not correct old information with You are wrong. Say Actually,… or I’m still…, but…
• Do not keep talking because of silence. Say So that’s what’s new with me and leave space.

Practice: choose, complete, say it

Which answer fits?

Choose A or B.

1. An old friend asks, “What have you been doing lately?” A. “My name is Emily and I work in an office.” B. “These days, I’m taking an evening course.”
2. A former coworker asks, “Are you still working downtown?” A. “I’m still at the same company, but I work from home on Fridays.” B. “I like coffee and movies.”
3. You want to show that something has not changed. A. “My job is same.” B. “I’m still at the same job.”
4. You started a course last month. A. “Recently, I start a course.” B. “Recently, I started a course.”

Finish the five lines

Finish each sentence with something true for you.

1. These days, I…
2. Recently, I started…
3. One thing that’s new is…
4. I’m still…
5. Right now, I’m…

Say your own update

Imagine you meet someone who already knows you but has not seen you for a few months. Say three updates out loud in 45 to 75 seconds: one thing that is new, one thing you are focused on now, and one thing that is still true. Say it again, and remove one detail. Make it clearer, not longer.

Sample replies

These are examples. Your answers can be different.

Exercise 1

1. B
2. A
3. B
4. B

Exercise 2

1. These days, I’m reading more short articles in the morning.
2. Recently, I started a Saturday morning yoga class.
3. One thing that’s new is I moved closer to my office.
4. I’m still working with the same team.
5. Right now, I’m helping with a new project, so work is busy.

Exercise 3

These days, I’m working a little earlier. Recently, I started an online course after work. I’m still living in the same apartment. Right now, I’m trying to make more time for reading. So that’s what’s new with me.

Questions about life updates

Do I need all five phrases?

No. Use the ones that fit. The phrases organize meaning, but they do not turn your answer into a timeline.

What if I have six updates?

Choose the two or three that matter most to this conversation.

What if my life did not change?

Say that. Things are pretty similar. I’m still at the same job. Then add one current focus, for example Right now, I’m trying to exercise more after work.

Can I use a different order?

Yes. You can start with a new change, or start with stability and then add change. There is no single correct order.

Hear it in a real conversation

Want to hear these phrases in a full conversation with Paul and Emily? Listen to the episode and read the transcript in Share What’s New in Your Life in English.