How to Be Confident and Keep Yourself Safe

There are plenty of ways you can secure your home to make you feel safe indoors, but what about when you leave the house? Some people don’t think twice about walking alone, whereas some people feel it is a cause for concern.

Whether you work late shifts and have to travel at unsociable hours, or just feel uneasy about walking the streets alone, no one should feel insecure or unsafe when you go out. This can often lead to missing social events and turning into long-term anxiety.

Even if you feel you live in a well-lit, or safe place, it doesn’t hurt to take extra precautions that will keep you safe. It can be difficult to know what to do, but if you can educate yourself on several ways to protect yourself, you may feel a little more at ease when heading out on your own.

Here are some top tips to help you grow your confidence and keep yourself safe.

#1 BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS

Try to avoid wearing headphones or spending too much time on your phone when you are out and about. Not only does this keep you safe from walking into the road or bumping into something, but it also means your attention is not elsewhere and people don’t think that you are distracted. Keep your head up and look forward as you walk, which will help you to stay more alert. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for any suspicious activity around you. A street smart attitude can go a long way.

#2 MAKE SURE SOMEONE KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE

Tell a friend or family member that you can trust where you plan on going and for how long. This may help you feel more confident as someone will know your route and be alerted if they do not hear from you. Try to avoid telling new friends or strangers, or even posting your location on social media. You can also agree with friends that you will let each other know when you are home safely.

Alternatively, see if you can walk with someone to your destination. There is much more safety in numbers compared to walking alone.

#3 TRY TO STICK TO PLACES YOU KNOW

It is best to stick to paths and roads that you are familiar with. This will help you to feel safe and confident while traveling to your location. It can be pretty stressful and anxiety-inducing when you are in an unfamiliar place, let alone with the added stress of feeling unsafe. When you are somewhere you know, you will also be aware of your exits if you do need to move away from suspicious activity.

Whether you are driving and parking at your destination or walking the streets, you should always stick to places that you know are safe, are heavily populated, and are well-lit areas. This will help you to see where you are going upon arrival, or when you leave, and be able to better see your surroundings.

#4 ACTIVATE YOUR GPS

If you are worried, there are plenty of applications that you can use on smart devices that will track your location. You can then share this information with a close friend or family member, so they can see your whereabouts if they do not hear from you for some time. Apps that are popular include Find My Friends.

#5 CARRY PERSONAL SAFETY DEVICES

Personal safety devices can help you feel more at ease when traveling alone. These devices are a great way to protect you in the unfortunate event that someone tries to rob or attack you. You should also keep your mobile phone on you at all times, so that you can call for help, or contact someone if you are feeling unsafe in any situation. Some of the most common personal safety devices that people carry are:

• Pepper spray
• Stun Gun or Taser
• Personal safety alarm
• Strobe light

Many of these devices are created with the intention to deter a person from harming you so that you have enough time to flee for safety. They should be used with caution and the right knowledge. It is vital that you check the laws in your country, as they may differ depending on the location and the type of device. For example, if you check the Taser Laws by State, you’ll find that to date, states such as Alabama, California, Louisiana, and many more have no major legal restrictions on these types of concealed devices for personal protection purposes.

#6 LEARN SELF-DEFENSE

Self-defense is a great tool to have under your belt and can come in handy in any situation. It doesn’t require you to remember to pack any device in your bag or activate anything on your phone. Just knowledge and practice that you can keep over time. You do not have to be a black belt in karate to learn how to defend yourself. There are many ways that you can build your confidence, with the knowledge that you can take care of yourself while alone. As well as more confidence, self-defense knowledge will ensure you are physically capable to take on an attack, not with arrogance, but with skills.

There are plenty of self-defense classes that you can take. You will just need to find a service in your local area that provides classes that offer a variety of skills that you can learn.

#7 TRUST YOUR GUT

If something, a place, or a person just doesn’t feel right, then trust your gut and take action. It might be that you feel unsafe or feel as if you are being followed. It is not worth taking a risk, and instead, you should quickly move to a space you feel comfortable and safe. This could be a friend’s house, or just a busy, well-lit main road.

Make sure you follow these safety tips any time you leave the house and are walking alone. This will ensure you keep yourself safe by bringing more awareness to your surroundings, being alert to suspicious activity, and being prepared, mentally and physically, if something were to happen.