20 Best Responses To "What Are You Up To"

"What are you up to?" lands in your messages or gets tossed at you in conversation, and suddenly you're deciding how much information to share, what tone to strike, and whether this is genuine interest or just conversational filler. The question itself is deceptively simple—they're asking about your current activities or general state of affairs. But your response communicates far more than just what you're doing. It signals availability, mood, interest in continuing the conversation, and whether you're open to whatever might come next.

Sometimes you want to be straightforward and informative. Other times you'd rather deflect with humor or keep things deliberately vague because you're not really doing anything worth discussing or you just don't feel like explaining. The challenge is having responses ready that fit different contexts—casual friends, close relationships, professional acquaintances, people you're trying to politely brush off. Standing there scrambling for something to say while they wait for your answer never feels great.

I've gathered twenty responses that work across different situations and moods. Some are direct answers. Others are invitations to hang out. A few are deliberately evasive or humorous for when you don't want to get into details. Whether you're actually busy, completely free, or somewhere in between, you'll find options here that communicate exactly what you want without overthinking it.

20 Best Responses To "What Are You Up To"

I'm Just Hanging Out

Classic casual response that communicates you're not doing anything particularly structured or demanding. You're in relaxed mode, time is unscheduled, and you're just existing without specific agenda.

This works well because it's honest without being boring. It also leaves the door open for them to suggest something if they want company or have plans in mind. You can extend this with "want to join me?" if you're hoping they'll come over or meet up.

Not Much, Got Anything For Me?

Flips the question back while confirming you're available. You're essentially saying your schedule is open and you're receptive to whatever they might be proposing.

This works particularly well when you suspect they're asking because they want to do something together. You're making it easy for them to extend an invitation without the awkward dance of figuring out if you're free.

Just Working On Some Stuff

Deliberately vague response that acknowledges you're occupied without getting into specifics. Could be actual work, personal projects, household tasks—anything that requires focus and time.

Use this when you're busy but don't want to elaborate on what you're doing, or when the details aren't interesting enough to explain. It politely signals you're not immediately available without sounding dismissive.

Just Chilling, Want To Join Me?

Combines status update with invitation. You're relaxed and not doing anything demanding, and you're explicitly opening the door for them to come hang out.

This works when you genuinely want company but don't have structured plans. It's low-pressure invitation that makes joining you sound easy and casual rather than requiring commitment to specific activity.

Just Watching Some TV

Straightforward answer that indicates you're unwinding with passive entertainment. You're home, relaxed, and not particularly occupied with anything that demands serious attention.

This can signal either that you're unavailable because you need downtime, or that you're free for interruption since TV watching is easily paused. Context and relationship determine which message they'll receive.

Just Reading A Book

Similar to TV watching but slightly more intellectually engaged. You're occupied but with activity that's easily set aside if something more interesting comes along.

This works as either genuine answer or polite excuse depending on whether you're actually reading. It suggests you value quiet time without making you sound antisocial.

Just Hanging Out With Friends

Informs them you're currently engaged socially and therefore not available. It's clear status update that explains why you might not be able to talk long or meet up.

Particularly useful when the person asking might want something from you that requires availability. It's not rude refusal—it's factual explanation of your current situation.

I'm Working On A Project

More specific than "working on stuff" while still being somewhat vague. Projects sound important and time-consuming, which justifies being unavailable.

This works for actual projects or as diplomatic way to say you're busy without explaining exactly what with. The word "project" carries weight that makes interrupting feel inappropriate.

Just Trying To Figure Out Life

Philosophical response that's both honest and slightly humorous. You're thinking, processing, maybe dealing with decisions or uncertainty about future direction.

This can be genuine expression of where your head's at or lighthearted way to acknowledge you're not doing anything specific. It invites deeper conversation if they want to engage or allows them to back off if they were just being polite.

Just Taking A Break

Indicates you've been busy with something and are now resting. It suggests you're not available for anything demanding but might be open to light conversation or easy activities.

Works well with colleagues or people who know you've been working hard on something. It explains your current state without requiring detailed explanation of what you were doing.

I'm Just Trying To Stay Sane

Half-joking acknowledgment that things are overwhelming or stressful. You're coping, managing, trying to keep it together amid whatever chaos you're dealing with.

This opens door for support or commiseration if they're close enough to offer it, or signals to casual acquaintances that you're dealing with something without making them feel obligated to help.

I'm Just Trying To Make It Through The Day

Communicates exhaustion or difficulty without going into detail. You're in survival mode, putting one foot in front of the other, getting through whatever needs getting through.

Use this when you're genuinely struggling and want empathy, or when you need to explain why you're not your usual self without elaborating on specifics.

I'm Just Trying To Figure Out What I Want To Do With My Life

Existential response that can be serious or semi-joking depending on delivery. You're in period of uncertainty or transition, thinking about direction and purpose.

This works for genuine moments of career or life confusion, or as somewhat dramatic way to say you're bored and aimless at the moment.

I'm Still Where You Last Saw Me

Slightly melancholic response indicating nothing has changed since you last spoke. Your situation remains static—same place, same circumstances, same routine.

This can be self-deprecating humor about lack of progress or genuine expression of feeling stuck. It invites them to either commiserate or offer distraction from stagnation.

Counting My Chickens Before They Hatch

Playful idiom-based response that's inherently humorous. You're either planning ahead optimistically or making joke about doing nothing while pretending it's strategic thinking.

The absurdity of the image makes this work as lighthearted deflection from actually answering the question. It's memorable and usually gets a laugh.

I'm Just Trying To Make A Difference

Earnest or slightly grandiose response depending on tone. You're engaged in something you consider meaningful, working toward positive impact.

This can be genuine if you're involved in activism, volunteer work, or meaningful project. It can also be tongue-in-cheek way to make mundane activities sound important.

I'm Trying To Set A World Record

Obviously playful response that sidesteps giving real answer. Unless you're actually attempting record-breaking feat, this is humorous deflection.

Works when you don't want to get into what you're actually doing or when you're doing something so mundane that making joke about it sounds more interesting than the truth.

I'm Just Trying To Live My Best Life

Popular phrase that communicates you're prioritizing enjoyment and fulfillment. You're making choices that serve your happiness and wellbeing.

Can be genuine statement about positive life phase or slightly ironic way to describe doing whatever you want without particular plan or structure.

I'm Talking To You Now, That's What's Up

Sarcastic response that points out the obvious—you're currently engaged in conversation with them. It's playfully literal interpretation of their question.

This works with friends who appreciate humor or when you want to deflect from actually explaining what you're doing. It can also signal you're available and focused on them right now.

I'm Just Trying To Be Me

Somewhat zen response that suggests you're focused on authenticity and self-acceptance. You're not trying to be anything other than yourself.

This can sound deep or deliberately vague depending on delivery. It's good for moments when you don't have specific activities to report but want to sound like you're in good headspace.

The beauty of "what are you up to?" is that it's simultaneously specific question and social lubricant. Sometimes people genuinely want to know your activities. Other times it's just conversation starter, way to check in, or prelude to invitation. Your response should match not just what you're actually doing but also what you want to communicate about your availability, mood, and interest in continued interaction.

Reading the context matters. Close friends get different answers than work colleagues. People you want to spend time with hear different responses than people you're trying to politely keep at distance. Someone asking because they want something from you gets different information than someone just making conversation. The same question with the same actual answer—let's say you really are just watching TV—can be phrased dozen different ways depending on whether you want company, need alone time, are open to alternative plans, or just want to end the conversation quickly.

The responses I've laid out give you flexibility across that spectrum. Some are invitations. Others are polite barriers. A few are deliberately ambiguous, letting the other person interpret based on what they're hoping to hear. Keep a few of these in your back pocket for different situations and relationships. That way you're never standing there awkwardly trying to figure out how to describe your completely unremarkable afternoon in a way that doesn't make you sound boring or doesn't accidentally commit you to plans you don't want. Sometimes the right response is just about having something to say that fits the moment without overthinking it.