6 Ways To Avoid Awkward Social Situations

Awkward moments happen to everyone. Even on a completely ordinary day, awkward social situations just seem to creep up on you, leaving you wanting to bury your head in the sand. Remember the last time you asked someone about their marriage, and only to find out that they’ve been divorced recently? Or that time you chat up someone you find interesting but can’t seem to keep the conversation, and ended with awkward silence? The fact of the matter is, no one likes being in an awkward situation. If you know how to spot a possible awkward social situation, then you can avoid them. Here are some tips to avoid awkward social situations by yours truly, Winston Deloney.

1. Always Have Your Phone on You

Pretending to be texting or the like will make you look occupied and will exempt you from any responsibility or involvement in whatever potential awkward things around you. This is especially useful when you’re in a small room of strangers and can’t be bothered to talk with them.

2. Make Sure You are Listening

When you can’t hear someone, the appropriate thing to do is to at least ask them to repeat what they said three times before giving up. The awkwardness comes when you quip something like “I know right!” or a courtesy chuckle even though they’re inappropriate for their statement. Just be honest and say, “Alright I’m sorry but I seriously can’t hear you at all.”

3. Be Appropriate

Movie night with the family is always fun. However, before you put out a film for everyone’s enjoyment, make sure that the film has no nudity or sex scenes to avoid cringe-worthy moments.

4. Awkward Handshakes

One of the most common awkward social situations that you can get into is the handshake limbo, where your handshake is never acknowledged. To avoid this, be aggressive when going for a handshake and don’t let yourself be ignored; even if it means that you have to snatch someone’s hand.

5. No Pregnancy Assumptions

Do not ever make assumptions about a person being pregnant. This is pretty much common sense but most people just seem to overlook. Assuming someone to be pregnant carries a lot of social risk. If the woman is not actually pregnant, you’re going to sound as if you just her she’s fat.

6. Carry Cash

If you’re on a date and you can see yourself covering the bill, always have a bit of cash on you. Debit cards are rather unreliable at times, even if you have the money in the bank. If it’s declined, then you’re in a world of embarrassment.