Hanging out in public can be a daunting aspect of life for a lot of people who do not have a lot of friends.

In fact, it’s one of those things most people don’t actually feel confident with, simply because they don’t want to be known as unsocial persons. And it’s something I can understand, having been there many times before. But the more you throw yourself out there as exactly who you are, the better the time will go on average simply because your confidence is unfaltering and your personality is given the chance to shine through on its own.

Hanging out with friends can (and should!) be fun, in all reality. And most people report having had a bout of exhilaration and fun like they haven’t experienced before. The problem is the anxiety and preparation, however. That’s what can break the nerves of some people, causing them to be overly awkward and not their true selves when the time actually comes around.

One of the best things you can do for yourself, however, is to shower beforehand, pay extra attention to brushing your teeth, flossing, and using mouthwash. At the very least, you won’t have to worry about how you smell or if you’re dirty in the slightest.

This is a quick and easy way to boost your confidence somewhat artificially in order to not care as much about how you may actually spend time with your friends. The less you have to worry about your appearance and smell, the less you focus on it. The less you focus on that, the more you can focus on the actual fun and eating. It’s one of those things that you probably won’t learn right off the bat from your first time of hanging out, but the more you get the hang of just being yourself, the more you’ll impress your fellows.

It’s funny how changing one little aspect of something can have such a big impact on the rest of an evening. Just keep in mind that a lot of people care more about your presentation and hygiene while meeting different people. Obviously, they’ll notice your personality and conversation as well. The more you get to know them, however, the less the artificial stuff will matter and the more you can truly hone in on conversation and fun time.