5 ways to decrease your Social Anxiety

July 24, 2021

Where do I even begin? If you're like me, you have struggled with "fitting in" and making friends. You always seem to choke when it came to doing presentations or starting a conversation with someone that you like. If any of these sound like you, then I am just here to tell you. You are not alone. Growing up, I was always outgoing and funny. But due to me being over weight, and insecure. I often found myself doubting my abilities, especially how others perceive me. During my third year in College, I began to turn over a new leaf. I started to fully embrace myself and not let the opinions of others dictate who I am. So I hope after reading this, you start to make small changes in your lifestyle and love who you are, regardless of your imperfections. As we know, there are somethings we cannot change. 

1.) Growing Pains are temporary 

Those moments where you felt picked on for whatever reason, not being the smartest kid in class and other hiccups in your life. I want you to know those people will not be in your life forever. Especially fake friends and enemies. As you begin to level up and become better. More people will recognize that and want to be apart of your life even more. Good and bad. The ability to recognize who is in your corner and wants to see you win is a life hack that I recommend you develop now. Most of the people around you are a by product of circumstances and choices. The choice of coming to school to get an education in hopes of one day, getting a career. The circumstance of being in the same class with someone who despise you and feeling hopeless. I want you to know that pain is temporary but how you deal with it, is all that matters. 

2.) Limit your time on Social Media 

I have mentioned in a previous post, briefly about my limitations on Social media. I've noticed that spending time too much on social media has had so many negative effects, the most important which limits our productivity. Nowadays, we have more apps than ever, from Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Youtube, and so much more. It can be very easy to become distracted and unorganized. In my experience, I've noticed that becoming too accessible to people isn't always a good thing.

 I consider myself to be an extroverted-introvert, meaning I thrive in environments with a crowd, and I have no issues meeting people (this wasn't always the case). Establishing the boundaries with social media and people is another life hack. You should take time for yourself to re-charge and focus on your goals and daily tasks. The Iphone has a feature that tracks how much time you spend daily on your phone, more specifically certain apps you use. I'd recommend turning this feature on and observe how much screen time is being used per week. I promise you will be surprised. 

3.) Exercise Consistently 

This is something that we were all taught at a young age, even incorporated in our public school system, yet we tend to make less time for this as we age. I have found the gym to be my stress reliever and best friend. I've found that exercising helps with not only your mood, but also, with the ability to deal with difficult situations. Not only will it help with your body image and confidence. Being healthier is not only an internal gripe, but it also helps with how you feel about your body and honestly, makes you feel like you can conquer the world. It's an immaculate feeling to say the least. As you get older, life does get harder; especially  dealing with new responsibilities, bills, friendships, and even relationships. Start with something small like 3 days a week. It doesn't have to be in the gym, I'd recommend going for a run around your neighborhood or biking on a trail. Even join fitness classes. I say all this to say, there's benefits to taking care of your body and overall health. 

4.) Read Daily 

The irony is in the title! Just wanted to say a quick thank you for reading my blogs so far and I hope you continue to find value in my content. Okay, let's continue! Being a student requires us to read a lot and it only increases as you move up grade-levels. Whether you like it or not, it is one of those things you have to get used to doing. So, I would recommend developing a strong relationship with it now, to save you misfortune in your future. 

Currently, I am reading at least 30-minutes a day outside of school, and I recommend for you to do the same. I personally love self-help books because I am focusing on becoming a better version of myself daily. I would recommend reading books that pertain to your life, an area where you would like to improve in. For example, if you, just like me at one point struggled with making friends, I would recommend the book "How to Make Friends & Influence People" for starters. 

5.) Try Something New 

Most of us have a routine that we implemented and yet, even that can be boring at times. We fear anything that is outside of the "normal" and often become curious yet complacent in our life choices. I challenge you weekly, to try 1 new thing. Whether it is an activity or a new food item, a podcast or a course. Challenge yourself to do something outside of your comfort zone. Part of being confident in yourself, is also accepting the fact that you can be by yourself and do things independently, but more importantly, not relying on others for your happiness. It needs to come from within.

Not only will this help with your personality, but you will meet new people with similar interests and grow your social circle. Often times, we tend to isolate ourselves because we don't have a solid group of people that we can rely on or network with. We cannot conquer life alone. Life is a series of moments, but it is best lived through people that love and support you. 

If you're reading this, you've made it to the end of my blog. I hope these 5 tips will help you in some capacity. I have implemented these things into my life and have seen results. I have been in your position, and I want you to know you are not alone. Use these tips and watch your life transform. (Just to clarify, I am not a medical doctor or psychiatrist. So these tips may not be applicable to you depending on your condition. If critical, please see a medical professional).