Are you substantially less excited about returning to the business of socialising than perhaps you expected?
Feeling a little apprehensive about seeing friends and family face-to-face again after a year of lockdowns, isolation, Zoom-based socialising, watching a lot more TV than usual, having the same conversations with the same people, do you feel the need to brush up on your conversation skills before meeting friends and family in person?
How will we cope with summer socialising now that we’re being offered a glimpse of freedom?
Are you wondering how on earth you’ll engage in witty in-person repartee?
Here are 7 great tips that work:
1. Pace yourself and take it slow.
Accept how you feel; start slowly. Be honest with family and friends, let them know what’s going on. Close connections are crucial for mental health, so if you can’t cope with too many get-togethers right now, going at a pace you can handle is crucial for your wellbeing.
2. You don’t have to go to the opening of an envelope.
If you find it difficult to say ‘no’, learn how. Try this proven method. Ask yourself, if I say ‘yes’ to this event, what am I saying ‘no’ to. For example, if you say ‘yes’ to two get-togethers in one day are you saying ‘no’ to your invigorating walk or your precious reading time? Which option nourishes you and your wellbeing? You still need “me-time”. You don’t have to feel guilty for not wanting to be the socialite of the year.
3. Journal your way to clarity.
Writing down your worries and how you feel about them brings you clarity on why exactly you’re feeling anxious. Use your notebook or journal to write – just begin to write about what exactly you’re worried about. Why are you concerned? Is it because you have no stories to tell? Is it because you have come to enjoy the habit of solitude and you’re unsure how to ‘be’ with people you haven’t seen for so long? Write about how these thoughts make you feel. Dig deep and write about what it is exactly bothers you about socialising again.
4. Plan and prepare your conversational topics.
List 5 interesting topics and some questions to ask. When you ask questions, others will be delighted to open-up to you – always a great recipe for successful socialising. Look at what you have been up to, maybe you have taken up swimming in the sea, reading and who hasn’t had a binge on Netflix. You have plenty to say. Put it out there and then you can listen.
5. Being Grateful brings so much happiness
Gratitude journaling takes your mind off what’s bothering you, brings you to a more positive place where you feel less anxious about many aspects of life. When your mind is more positive, use this as a springboard for taking action.
6.Positive affirmations
Write down something positive about yourself or your life every day. I enjoy meeting interesting people, listening to their stories – I learn from this. Writing down positive affirmations every day creates and reinforces a positive mindset, which adds to your enjoyment of life’s experiences.
7. Have an Exit Strategy
It is ok to not be ok, if your social anxiety is getting the better of you don’t stay there. It is ok to try again tomorrow. Baby steps.
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