How to be less awkward and anxious

[Verity35]

Any tips on how to be less awkward when meeting people in professional settings e.g. work and dinner parties. How to be less anxious about things.

Just be yourself x try and relax, know that they might also be nervous, go with the flow and don't overthink it before or after. Don't put any pressure on yourself x

Watching this as I am also horrific in these situations!!

What helps me is to focus on everyone else who is there rather than myself, show curiosity about them and their interests.

Have you a confident friend or a good work colleague at dinner parties and meetings who might help you along in these situations? I have an excellent manager who has my back when more senior colleagues interrupt and try to talk over me- it helps enormously.

I read 'Notes on a nervous planet' by Matt Haig that really helped me with feelings of social anxiety. He said this more eloquently but it went along the lines of...nobody gives a fuck what you look like/say because all they care is what they look like/are saying.

It's only a tiny bit of advice but has helped me relax knowing if I do/say the wrong thing at the wrong time, nobody will really care because they are thinking about themselves.