5 Tips to Battle Phone Anxiety

We rely too heavily on the written word, whether it is in a text message, email, or through social media. Face-to-face contact is becoming more and more obsolete. When it comes to phone calls, even more so.

As much as technology may be overhauling each and every way that we communicate, leading us to use the phone part of our phone less, there are still situations where we do need to make a phone call, may it be to make a doctor’s appointment, to schedule an appointment at the salon, or to just check in with a family member.

Anxiety can get the worst of us, so here are some tips to make your next necessary phone call possible.

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Grab a piece of paper and pen & Write it out

It can be as simple as a bullet list, going over the topics you want to cover. It can be as detailed as word-by-word of exactly what you want to say and how you want to say it. Or it can even just be essential things to know, such as the other person’s name, your own name (kidding!), etc.

The point is, seeing it physically on paper can reduce the anxiety of being on the phone. You see what you want to say, or at least topics you want to cover, and you worry less about rambling on and on. You get straight the point easier, and you also get through what you want to say easier.

Fidget spinners, stress balls, pets, etc.

Whatever you can get your hands on, grab it! Distracting yourself with something to do with your free hand will make you think less about making a fool of yourself and more about the exact mechanics of a fidget spinner.

Make a test phone call

Call up a local business and ask a simple question. Just plunging into a phone call will make the second phone call a whole lot smoother. You will care less about sounding awkward to someone you don’t know compared to someone who you do know.

Remind yourself why you are calling

You are likely to feel like a burden, calling whoever it is for whatever reason. Remind yourself, whether it be mentally or written, exactly why you are calling. You have a reason to call, a question to an answer to get, an appointment to make, a person to talk to.

Remind yourself that if there was another way to do this, you would likely be doing that. THIS is the only reason. Breath in and out, and get that doctor’s appointment scheduled.

Lastly, take a walk

Sitting still or standing still might make you feel even more anxious. Walk around your house or wherever you are. While you’re making the call, start rearranging things on a shelf or looking through the mail. Whatever it might take to use that anxiety for something good, rather than keeping it bottled up.