7 Great Ways to Be Social During the Holidays: Tips from a Social Confidence Coach

The holidays are a time for socializing, making new friends, and expressing gratitude for the people in our lives. However, for people who are shy or struggle with social interactions, the holiday season can be a source of anxiety and discomfort. As a social confidence coach, I have helped many people overcome their shyness and become more outgoing during the holidays. In this article, I will share with you seven great ways to be more social and make the most of this festive season.

1. Fill up Your Social Agenda
The key to enjoying meaningful interactions during the holidays is to get involved in social activities instead of avoiding them. Attend any social activity you can find, such as family dinners, corporate parties, friend gatherings, drinking nights, or holiday trips. Even if it may not sound appealing at first, try stepping out of your comfort zone and giving it a chance. You will typically discover that it’s a lot more fun once you actually go to an event.

2. Organize Social Events
Don’t wait for others to organize social activities and invite you. Take the initiative and arrange your own social events. Be the host of a pre-Christmas party or organize a poker night with old friends. When you’re the initiator of a certain social activity, it’s easier to feel confident and be more social because you’re on your ‘turf.’

3. Bear Gifts
Gifting is a great way to elicit people’s goodwill and make them feel appreciated. Take some time to buy a nice little holiday present whenever you visit or meet someone. It doesn’t have to be something expensive, just something interesting. Remember, it’s the gesture that matters most.

4. Take More Risks
If you’re shy or reserved, you might have a hard time speaking up and being authentic in social interactions. The holidays are a terrific moment to start taking more risks when interacting with others. Speak your mind, open up, and be as spontaneous as you can. It’s okay to make mistakes, and nobody has ever died because of embarrassment.

5. Seek the Friendly Persons
If you have a hard time starting conversations with people at parties or other social events, look for the people who seem the friendliest in the room and start by talking with them. Their gregarious and positive attitude will help you feel more confident and boost your self-assurance to interact with others.

6. Use the Holidays to Come Up with Conversation Topics
During the holidays, there are plenty of topics to talk about. Ask people how they’ve spent their holidays so far, what their plans for the next few days are, what they’re doing for New Year’s Eve, what presents they got for Christmas, and so on. Go for it!

7. Listen, but Also Talk
A good conversation is a two-way street. Be a good listener and encourage others to talk and open up. However, remember that it’s also essential to talk and open up yourself; this can be a bit uncomfortable for some people. The only way to overcome this is to deliberately disclose more about yourself, despite the aversion you may have. Over time, it gets easier.

In Closing
As you open up and become more social, you’ll find yourself having more fun during social interactions and fully enjoying the holidays. Don’t forget to let go of the need for approval from others and simply have fun. On that note, I wish you the most social and gratifying holidays you’ve ever had.