Ways to Improve Your Social Skills and Be More Outgoing

It was the fifth night in a row I’d spent in my room. I could hear my housemates laughing and chatting downstairs. I wanted to reach out, to connect, but I felt paralyzed.

For reasons I’d rather not get into, senior year found me without the same core group of friends I’d had before I studied abroad. One of my remaining friends had invited me to live in a house with him and a few of his friends (most of whom I didn’t know).

Don’t Hide Behind Your Phone

While I was glad to be included, I still felt isolated. Socially, I was starting from scratch, and at the worst possible time. Everyone already had their friend groups, so why would they include a stranger like me? This negative self-talk kept me isolated for months. Meeting new people was a struggle, and it turned into a vicious cycle where my perceived inability to socialize became a real inability.

Eventually, slowly, I broke out of this cycle and made some friends I still have today.
What changed?

In short, I made a deliberate effort to Improve my Social Skills. If you’re struggling in social situations, my hope is that I can help you do the same. So in this article, I’m going to cover some techniques that have helped me manage social anxiety, make new friends, and become a more confident, outgoing person.

What Are Social Skills?
“Social skills” is a pretty vague term on its own. It covers a range of situations and behaviors far too vast to discuss in one article.When most people say they want to improve their social skills, I think what they really mean is “I want to get better at talking to strangers, make friends more easily, and be more comfortable in social situations.” So those are the topics I’ll focus on this guide (they’re also the ones I have the most experience with).

Note: While it’s possible to improve your social skills with practice, it’s also possible that your social anxiety stems from an anxiety disorder. If you’re concerned about this, I encourage you to speak to a medical professional. I’m not a doctor, therapist, or counselor, so please don’t take my advice as a substitute for professional help.

Practice, Practice, Practice

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