Are you tired of spending hours a day online going through your friends' Facebook profiles? Do you spend more time interacting with people online than in person? With the internet it is now easier than ever to stalk people / find out almost every detail about their private life without even speaking to them. I find that incredibly creepy / stalker'ish... Maybe it is time for you to get a life? I mean come on voyeurism is kinda creepy... If you find yourself vicariously living through other people's life perhaps you need to reexamine your lifestyle. Don't worry, I have compiled a small list of things that can help you get a life.
1) Put yourself out there. Participate in at least one social activity a week. It's not healthy to only spend time interacting with people online or over the phone. You may feel uncomfortable at first, but over time you will start to gain more confidence. No, work does not count even if you like your job.
2) Break up with your computer. You aren't dating your computer, so if you spend 25 to 50 percent of your time online, you may have a problem. The less you are online, the more time you have to actually foster relationships with real people instead of a computer. There are a couple of small exceptions to this for people whose friends and families are overseas. Skype, email, or live chat are wonderful tools to keep in touch with people across the globe.
3) Hello stranger! When you pass by a stranger, smile and say hello. This will not only brighten their day, but it will help you with any feelings of social awkwardness. Yes, you may feel incredibly uncomfortable at first, but in time it will become second nature. Your happy face and kind words may just make someone's day!
4) Wear your clothes, don't let them wear you! Okay, this tip is kinda shallow, but lets face it, most people are visual. Are you going to want to socialize with a person who looks like a homeless person? Probably not. When you are dressed well or make a little extra effort getting ready for the day, typically your confidence level is higher. If you are unsure about how to dress, read my blog '
Ten Things You Should NEVER Wear.' Even though this is somewhat contradictory, dress for you, not other people.
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| Me and my homeboy Indiana Jones |
5) Phone a friend. After years of isolation surfing the inter-web, you may have slight social anxiety. If you are anxious about going out in public, try to find someone you trust and confide in them. A nice way to somewhat get around your fear is asking a friend to accompany you on your weekly social expeditions.
There is more to life than cyberspace, and it is much more enjoyable when you actually interact with people. If people are too intimidating, why not start with a scarecrow and slowly work your way to a real live person? My friend Mr. Jones would be more than happy to act as a substitute for a real live person. Heck, if you are too scared to talk to a real person, why not use the very thing which has made you anti-social, technology. Either get an iPhone 4S or download the droid application Iris (an application which came out 48 hours after Apple came out with Siri - the app is essentially the same). At least you will have practice saying things out loud instead of mindlessly typing whatever comes to mind. To anyone reading this who feels as though they are socially awkward, I wish you all the best. If you require any additional "pointers" about how to enrich your social life, feel free to leave a comment. In all honesty, with no added sarcasm, the world needs to become more focused on interpersonal relationships.
