Rolling my eyes is one of the most useful things I learned during my pre-teenager, also known as “tween” years. As I started to realize how annoying the world around me could be, I struggled to express myself in an appropriate manner. There were times where I knew that a full-on outburst was unacceptable but that ignoring the irritant was simply impossible.
After much contemplation, a few tears, and observing an incredibly sassy older sister, I finally figured out that the eye-roll was exactly what I was looking for.
Throughout my remaining tween and teenage years, I carefully practice the rolling my eyes whenever possible. Was Mom being bothersome? Did Hollister not have my size in the graphic tee I wanted? Were my classmates making fun of my last name again? These were all perfect opportunities for my eyes to make a rotation around their sockets.
However, as I grew older, I realized that rolling your eyes is a delicate practice. There are a variety of mishaps that can occur, such as getting caught by parents, offending friends, or even having your eyes be permanently stuck. A few fun and friendly guidelines can make all the difference when trying to convey your utter dissatisfaction with the situation at hand.
First off, it’s very important not to go overboard. Like I said before, you don’t want people to think that your eyes are permanently stuck in the rolling position. There are times where a nice, solid eye-roll seems necessary, but I urge you to fully evaluate the scenario before proceeding. Maybe a slightly backhanded comment could be just as useful?
Another super fantastic tip is to at least attempt being discreet. Turn your head to the side; make it quick, do whatever! I understand you have a reputation to uphold as sass queen and that your spirit animal is Khloe Kardashian, but there is no good reason publicly eye-roll on the regular, so don’t; it’s rude.
Finally, be careful who you allow to see this magical expression of annoyance. I beg of you, please do not roll your eyes during a meeting with a professor, a job interview, during church, or around your grandmother.
So there you have it -- the age-old art of rolling your eyes. It’s an easy yet powerful way to convey annoyance, irritation, and general displeasure. Use it wisely.
