Your social life (or lack of one) can be a big source of stress for you. Either too much or too little social stimulation can be stressful: too little and you feel lonely, estranged, and isolated; too much and you get overwhelmed by social demands and the needs of other people. There are a number of ways to make social situations less stressful, but they all boil down to a few basic principles.

1. Be assertive but gracious. Stand up for your rights but do it in a way that doesn't alienate others. This is particularly applicable when people want too much of you or your time.
2. Seek out people who share your interests, people you understand and who understand you.
3. Remember to smile. Be open with people and be yourself. Allow other people to be themselves.
4. Work on your social skills and use them. Talk to people and be friendly.

Reducing your social isolation and loneliness calls for a plan of action and requires a number of skills. One way of avoiding social stress is by staying in touch with people you already know. Keep the friends you've got. There will be times when people won't like you no matter what you do or don't do. When it happens, don't take it personally. Develop a thick skin. Take pride in your ability to tolerate isolation, alienation, and social conflict. Remind yourself that self-respect and integrity come first. To be alone is not necessarily to be lonely. You need to develop a set of skills to help you deal with your social stress effectively. Skills such as good etiquette, self-assertion, cognitive flexibility, public speaking, listening, conversation, delegation, leadership, self-esteem enhancement, and behavioral flexibility are particularly helpful.

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