How to Calm Your Nerves in Social Situations ...

Never underestimate the power of deep, cleansing breathing. It’s one of the most calming things you can do. It slows your nervous breathing down and gives you a momentary pause to deal with your anxious emotions. Make a conscious effort to do this when nerves feel like they’re going to take over. It’s also a good time to remind yourself that you’ve totally got this.

If you can find a friendly face in a social situation, it can make all the difference in the world. For me, just having one person that I’m friends with in attendance makes things better. Once you find your friendly face, work your way toward them and enjoy their company for the evening. It’s even better if you know that a friend’s going to be there ahead of time. You can arrange to meet up and tackle the social event together.

You’re probably not the only one feeling nervous in any social situation. Other people feel that way too. Acknowledging that to yourself can be helpful. Look around and you may even see others who are showing some signs of nervousness. You’ll feel less alone when you can observe others who may be dealing with nerves, too.

This is a saying I’ve heard all my life. “People are just people.” Basically, the meaning is you shouldn’t be intimidated by others. No one is better than you so don’t allow that thought to intimidate you. And generally, once you take the time to get to know them, you’ll find out most are pretty nice people after all.

You have a lot to offer others. We’re all unique so our personality traits will differ, but you undoubtedly have traits that make you a terrific person. Think about what others love about you and you’ll begin to feel more confident in yourself. Remembering how amazing you are can give you the confidence you need to tackle social situations. Others are bound to love you.

This sounds too simple to work, but it truly does. Smiling at others will give you a boost of confidence. It also helps to calm your nerves. Smiling even makes you feel happier and it’s hard to be nervous when you’re feeling happy. It also makes you seem more approachable to others.

When you’re nervous, it’s always good to think of something calming. My daughter says that she thinks of watching fish swim when she’s nervous and I think that’s a calming thought. You could also think of a quiet beach and how the waves would sound. Just picturing everything going well at the social event could be helpful. You know what thoughts feel most calming to you.

These are 7 ways to calm your nerves in social situations. What little tricks do you use? I’d love to hear your tips.