How to Make Friends When You’re Socially Awkward
– [Narrator] Hey, Psych2Goers,
welcome back to our channel. Do you have trouble making friends? Would you say that
you’re socially awkward? Well, you’ve come to the
right place, my friend because if you’re looking for
help while making friends, Psych2Go has some tips for you. Here is how you can make some friends when you’re socially awkward. Number one. Start talking to strangers. Do strangers intimidate you? Or maybe you simply have no
desire to talk to any of them. You don’t know them after all, how would you know if you like them? But in most cases, friendships are started by simply uttering this one word, hello. The word is, hello. You must be thinking
it’s not as easy as that and it isn’t always, but the more you get used
to randomly saying hello to those near you, or those
who make eye contact with you, the easier you’ll get used
to social interactions with strangers.
Tomorrow, it might be a simple, hello, the next week you ask them how they are or if that book they’re
reading is any good. Maybe you complement them, even better. This will ease you into
social interactions. The simple, hello,
pleasantries, small talk, and then genuinely interesting
conversations, let’s hope. Next time you see someone beautiful or maybe they’re wearing a
nice outfit, compliment them or maybe they’re great
at a particular skill, compliment them. Maybe they’re simply
so kind you can’t help but tell them that they
put you in a better mood.
Gotta start somewhere. Genuine compliments are the way to go. Number two. Start up a conversation
with those who intrigue you. Okay, so you’ve been
engaging in small talk with strangers a bit more,
but you’re still friendless. Well, try starting a
conversation with someone who intrigues you and
discuss what it is about them that intrigues you, as long
as it’s not anything weird. They may just wanna know more. This isn’t to say it should be
the first thing you bring up, but after talking with them a bit, mention what it is you
appreciate about them. “Wow, I love how passionate
you are about painting” or “I’m so intrigued by
your theories on lamas, “tell me more.” Odds are, they won’t be
discussing lama theories with you, but hey, you get the idea. If something drew you to them, maybe you have something in common.
Find out what you do have in common and discuss your shared passions. People generally get excited
to discuss things they love so you’ll both seem more
approachable and friendly when you discuss the things you both love. Number three. Awkward moments are bound to happen. Do you dread the
inevitable awkward silence that comes along with most conversations? Well, it’s bound to happen, people. Instead of panicking, embrace the silence. (chuckles) Easier said than done, right? Yeah, but you have to push
through the silence sometimes.
Ask yourself, “Is this
silence really that awkward “or is it just a few
seconds of, well, silence?” Go ahead and smile at the silence or simply take a deep
breath and move on in topic. You may say, “By the way,
this reminds me of…” Or, “Totally random, but lately
I’ve been thinking about…” Or simply ask them a
new question, just relax and the change in topic or
silence won’t be as awkward, and if it is, it’s totally
fine to feel a bit awkward, but try to accept this. You’ll recover. You can, I believe in you. Number four. Be around those who have the
same values, hobbies, or passions as you. Do you want friends? Well, you may need
something easy to talk about for starters. So try engaging with others who share the same hobbies
and passions as you. Remember finding something in common? Well, how can you find these people? Try to join a club focused
on a passion of yours or attend events focused
on your favorite hobby. Into chess lately? Join a chess club.
Love sketching? Try a painting class to find
other artists like yourself. Not only will you meet more artists, but you’ll also learn to paint as well. Having similar hobbies
or interests with someone will make it easier to strike
up conversations with them. So it’s a great start. Number five. Pretend you’re an extrovert
at first and tell yourself you’re just saying a few words. Do you struggle
with approaching others and striking up a conversation? While you should always be yourself, it could be a good idea to
try to get in the mindset that you’re
extremely extroverted. Say what? No, don’t
claim to be an extrovert when you talk to them, but simply let go of the
belief that you struggle to talk to others before
you approach them.
When you struggle socializing with others, it’s likely all you’re thinking about before you engage in
conversation with them. During those silences, you’re thinking about how you’re not the best at socializing. Those moments of hesitation
before you approach someone, you’re playing out scenarios
of what could go wrong. So simply let go of that idea and pretend you’re used
to talking to others when you approach them. You love it. Still talk about what
you like and who you are, and admit you are an
introvert if you are one and the time comes. The important thing is
starting the conversation, and you may just need to change
your mindset for a moment to break that barrier
of fear or awkwardness. And number six. If you’re invited somewhere, say yes. So you happen to know a few acquaintances and all is going well. One day someone invites
you to a party of theirs.
Before you answer, you hesitate. “Wait a second”, you think. “I hate parties.” You start compiling a list of excuses, some real, some imaginary. “I’m not feeling too well. “I have homework to do. “I have to walk my dog. “My mom’s making lasagna tonight. “Uh, lasagna does sound good,” but lasagna doesn’t matter anymore. You may not feel like making
friends when they ask you, but you know later you may wonder how the party would’ve been if you went and you may hold onto
some feelings of regret. Yes, they may pass with due time, but you may still want a
friend or two in the future.
So say yes, even if it
means reassuring yourself that you can leave at any time. You can. So why not show up and see how it goes? Strike up a few conversations. Let others know you simply
don’t know anyone here besides the host. They’ll often be inclined
to talk to you more, make you feel comfortable,
and get to know you. Say yes to any fun invitation you get from a friendly acquaintance or a friend, unless they’re offering you
candy, it’s not even Halloween. And remember probably the
most important tip of all, your mom’s lasagna can wait. It can wait. So will you use any of these tips? Will you embrace your social awkwardness and in turn, gain
confidence because of this, and in turn, possibly have an
easier time making friends? Will you attempt to overcome
social awkwardness? Embrace the silence, my
friends, embrace the silence.
See? And we’re already friends. We hope you enjoyed this video and if you did, don’t forget
to click the like button and share it with a
friend or acquaintance. Subscribe to Psych2Go and hit
the notification bell icon for more content like this, and as always, thanks
so much for watching. We’ll see you next time. (lighthearted music).
