Boost your self-esteem

A lack of confidence in yourself can sap your social life. It can leave you reluctant to meet new people, or confide in people you know because you're worried about how they'll react. The way forward is to identify one thing about yourself that others like and admire, and build on it. We're not talking much here, say your smile or quick wits, but once you've accepted that people respond well to them, things will quickly take off from there.

Explore your interests

Watching TV and feeling sorry for yourself don't count as hobby contenders, and everyone has something they'd like to do if only they could be bothered. Well, now that time has come. Whether it's rock climbing, amateur dramatics, ceramics or speaking Spanish, you'll find courses and clubs in your area (see your local paper, or adult education centre for more details). What's more, you'll automatically have a common interest with the people you meet and can draw upon your newfound social confidence to build up friendships.

Consider a dating agency

Gone are the days when signing up to a dating agency was like coming out as a sad loser. It's big business at the moment, and as more people find their lives are too hectic to make room for romance, so the prospect of an agency playing cupid on your behalf seems so much more appealing. Many agencies advertise in the classified section of the local paper, but do find out precisely what role they'll be playing before you hand over any cash.

Make room for a pet

A dog is a man's best friend, but you can bond with pretty much anything that has a mother and a heartbeat. From small-scale ant farms to cats or parakeets another living creature in your life could be just what you need. Just don't take anything on without thinking through the consequences. A puppy is for life, after all. After all, you can't take Rover into the city and lose it when your social life takes off and there's nobody at home to feed it. No really, you can't.

Updated: 13/04/2010