If you have received an invite to a friend’s birthday party, yet you don’t know anyone else who will be going, it can be a little bit daunting, especially as your friend will be busy spending time with all of their guests. Or, perhaps your friend has dragged you along to someone else’s party, only for you to discover that as soon as you arrive, he or she has disappeared off into the crowd? It can make you feel anxious, but there is no need to worry. Read on to discover how to survive a party when you do not know anyone.

Ditch the negative – There is only one place to begin, which is by getting rid of those negative feelings. Stop worrying about feeling like you have nothing to add to the party or don’t belong. Stop fretting about it being awkward because you won’t have anyone to talk to. You are simply creating scenarios in your head when they have not happened. Instead, focus on the good stuff – the music, the cocktails, etc.!

Look for others who seem to be on their own – The chances are that you will not be the only person at the party who doesn’t know anyone, so look for people in the same shoes as you.

Dress to impress—We always feel more confident when we look amazing, right? If you know that you will be going to a party where you won’t know anyone, look for evening dresses in advance. Plan your outfit so that getting ready is an enjoyable experience. After all, the last thing you want to do is start off your night negatively by feeling like you have turned your wardrobe upside down and still have nothing to wear.

Practice your conversation starters – Another way to ensure that the party goes as smoothly as possible and that you feel confident within yourself is to practice conversation starters. Storing up a couple of conversation starters for when you have edged into a group and are ready to talk is a good idea. Stay away from anything too controversial. Now is not the time to discuss politics with a bunch of strangers. “How do you know the host?” is always a good place to start. After all, everyone at the party typically knows the host somehow so that you can establish some common ground. Plus, there is typically a story behind how they met, which can spark a great conversation.

So there you have it: some useful tips you can follow if you ever find yourself at a party and do not know anyone in attendance. It can be a bit worrying and daunting if this happens, but there is nothing to fret about. You need to have a positive attitude and focus on enjoying yourself rather than focusing on the negative.