Sometimes fear makes itself known immediately, and other times it’s more difficult to name the anxious feelings. Let your fear rise to the surface and give it a name. It may be a concrete fear (like a fear of cats) or situational (like a fear of being called on in class).
On a date, focus on them and ask what they get up to, where they hang out, what they enjoy doing. Showing interest in them is crucial to a happy experience.
You don’t have to be the best conversationalist on a date, just talk about things that matter to you – maybe music, films, politics. Use your interests to start a chat, for example about music, asking what they’re listening to.
You may have a great group of friends, and that shouldn’t stop you from reaching out to those who don’t.
If a friend is dealing with an issue but taking it out on you, challenge them. Set boundaries and say something like: “I know you have something going on, but you can’t take it out on me.” Ask if there’s any way you can help them deal with the issue.
Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.
Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun. Try something new, or rediscover an old interest. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving.
It’s safe to freeze almost all food up until the use by date, including meat and meals cooked from previously cooked and frozen meat, such as leftovers. Once defrosted, the pause button is off, so defrost your food as you need it – and eat within 24 hours.
If you are taking advantage of multi-buys or larger pack sizes (e.g. chicken breasts) you can freeze them individually in smaller bags. You can also “batch cook” (cook enough for two or more meals) and eat one and freeze some for later, to avoid waste and minimise the effort of cooking.
It’s easy to ignore or deny your fears, but by taking ownership of your feelings you can take the first step towards gaining control over the situation.