Social Tips for Introverts

I am an introvert. I spend Saturday nights reading or in front of Netflix. That being said, I try to get out of the house once in a while to practice martial arts or speak at an open mic. These are tips for introverts in social settings—all of which are easier said than done.

1. Leave the house. You will have more fun snuggling under the covers if you’ve gone out first.
2. Ask questions. If they’re talking, you don’t have to be.
3. Notice what ticks appear when you’re nervous. For me, it’s jokes. At a work orientation for AmeriCorps, I greeted one guy, “Hey random dude.”
4. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you can take breaks. Try doing chores. At one family dinner, I helped with the dishes because I had a headache and needed out of the room. As a bonus, I got points for being helpful.
5. Do things in small groups, not large crowds. Crowds drain energy. Small groups also drain energy, but not as fast.
6. You can come home early. Staying for another round of drinks isn’t mandatory.
7. Relax—it’s not as big of a deal as you think it is. Most people are fine if you forget their name.

If these don’t work for you, it’s perfectly okay to go places alone. Just remember to take a book.

How to Survive a Fantasy Book

I’ve been a fantasy book junkie from a young age—ever since I followed Annie and Jack up the ladder to the magic tree house. Over the years, I’ve picked up a few tricks for how to survive inside them i.e. you have to be a woman to defeat the ring wraith. Enjoy.

• Don’t go on a trip with a druid. They leave with forty and come back with five. The math isn’t good.
• Bring a magic sword. It doesn’t matter if you have no experience fencing, or even if you know which end to use. The magic sword will make sure you survive.
• Don’t leave the path to follow the shiny lights. The dwarves did this in The Hobbit and they almost got devoured by spiders.
• Never go underground. Underground has dragons, gnomes, and balrogs. None of which are fun to meet.
• One protagonist is equal to ten antagonists. If you think you’re outnumbered, you’re not. Note: This only works for minions and flunkies, not for the dark lord.
• Never go into the forest. It’s called the Forbidden Forest for a reason. There are giant spiders in there (see tip three).
• Don’t assume someone is dead until you’ve seen their dismembered body. In fantasy books, falling off cliffs and getting impaled with a spear are minor inconveniences.

If you follow these tips, you should be fine. Simply pick the last place you’d want to go and start heading towards it.

 

 

 

Six Tips for Airport Survival

Flying is bearable at best. At worst, you’re forced to choke down wilted airline lettuce before waking up at a time your body tells you is three o’clock in the morning. This list will keep flying manageable without making you pay for overhyped extras like “A list preferred” or “premier access.”

• Bring food. Airlines feed passengers the bare minimum to keep them from revolting and how much you’ve eaten effects your mood. The more you bring to eat, the less you will want to scream and cry like a toddler.
• Do not check bags. If they want your luggage, make them fight you for it. One flight I was on, the airport decided to force four planes worth of baggage onto one carousel. Not good.
• That being said…pack light. The only things you need are your cell phone, your wallet, and your meds. Anything else you can get when you land.
• Do not put your purse in the overhead bin. This frees up space and makes boarding go faster. The quicker you get on the plane, the quicker you get off the plane.
• Allow yourself to get excited when the plane takes off. This will help make up for the time you spend fidgeting and waiting for the drinks cart.

If someone offers you a “GOL Smiles Diamond” membership, then go ahead and revolt