How to Cope With College Life if You’re Shy

Coping with shyness might not seem like a big problem for many people, but that is because they do not suffer with it. Shyness can hold you back in so many areas of your life and unless people have it, they don’t seem to understand. People tell you to come out of your shell and be more confident like it is something you can just suddenly decide to do.

Shyness can prevent you from going for the things you want and it can prevent you from being accepted in a group because shyness is often perceived as rudeness. But there are ways to cope with college life if you are shy.

The first things that you will need to do is think about what you want to achieve, what is your shyness stopping you from doing? When you have identified this you will be better equipped to deal with the situation.

Shy people that are trying to overcome their shyness can very often make the mistake of trying to do too much at once. Sometimes this works, but very often it will leave you feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed.

Take small baby steps each day towards overcoming your shyness. Be sure to do at least three small things per day, they don’t have to be huge but they do have to take you outside of your comfort zone.

For example, striking up a conversation with a stranger is not a huge thing, but if it is something that you would not normally do then it will take you out of your comfort zone and make you push yourself.

See also:  When to Report Roommate Problems to Your Resident Assistant

You are not alone, remember that, there will be dozens of people feeling exactly the same way you do, and they will be feeling just as nervous as you so don’t feel like you are the only one.

The only way to get good at interacting with people is to practice, despite what people say, nobody is born with “the gift of the gab” the only way these people have got so good at socializing is because they do it on a regular basis.

Faking confidence is a positive cycle, the more confident you look, the more confident you will feel.

Confident body language such as keeping your back straight, head up and making eye contact will all leave you feeling more confident. It’s a simple case of fake it till you make it.

Being shy can be very upsetting, it can leave you feeling alone and lonely, but it can be overcome, and you can feel more confident and self-assured.