There are so many ways you can protect your home to make you feel safe inside, but what about when you’re out? Some people don’t think twice about walking alone, while some feel it’s cause for concern.
Whether you work late and have to travel at unreasonable hours, or just feel uncomfortable walking down the street alone, no one should feel insecure or unsafe when you’re out and about. This can often lead to missed social events and translate into long-term anxiety.
Even if you feel like you’re living in a well-lit or safe place, you don’t need to take extra precautions to keep yourself safe. It can be hard to know what to do, but if you can learn some ways to protect yourself, you may feel a little more comfortable going out on your own.
Here are some top tips to help you boost 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’re out and about. Not only will this keep you safe when crossing the street or hitting something, but it also means your attention is nowhere else and people don’t think you’re distracted. Keep your head up and look ahead as you walk, this will help you stay alert. Keep your eyes and ears on for any suspicious activity around you. A smart attitude on the street 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 to go and for how long. This can help you feel more confident as someone will know your route and be alerted if they don’t 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’ll let each other know when you’re home safely.
Also, see if you can walk with someone to your destination. There is much safer in terms of numbers than walking alone.
#3 Try to stick to the places you know
It is best to follow the paths and paths that you are familiar with. This will help you feel safe and confident when traveling to your location. It can be quite stressful and anxious to be in an unfamiliar place, not to mention feeling unsafe even more stressful. When you’re somewhere you know, you’ll also know your exits if you need to move away from suspicious activity.
Whether you are driving and parking at your destination or walking on the street, you should always stick to places that you know are safe, densely populated and are well-lit areas. This will help you know where you are going when you arrive or when you leave, and can better observe your surroundings.
#4 Activate your GPS
If you’re worried, there are plenty of apps that you can use on your smart devices that will track your location. You can then share this information with a close friend or family member so they can see where you are if they haven’t heard from you for a while. Popular apps include Find my friends.
#5 Bring personal safety devices
Personal safety devices can help you feel more comfortable when traveling alone. These devices are a great way to protect yourself in the unfortunate event someone tries to rob or attack you. You should also keep your cell phone handy at all times so you can call for help or contact someone if you feel 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
- Flashing light
Many of these devices are created with the purpose of stopping a person from harming you so that you have enough time to flee to safety. They should be used with caution and with correct knowledge. It is important that you check the laws in your country, as they may vary depending on the location and type of device. For example, if you check State Taser LawYou will find that to date, states like Alabama, California, Louisiana and many others have no major legal restrictions on these types of concealed devices for personal protection purposes.
#6 Learn to defend yourself
Self defence is a great tool to have under your belt and can be useful in any situation. It doesn’t require you to remember to pack any devices in your pocket or activate anything on your phone. Just knowledge and practice that you can keep up with over time. You don’t have to be a black belt in karate to learn how to defend yourself. There are many ways you can build your confidence, with the knowledge that you can take care of yourself while alone. Along with more confidence, self-defense knowledge will ensure you are physically fit to carry out an attack, not with arrogance but with skill.
There are many self-defense classes you can take. You will simply need to find a service in your local area that offers classes that provide a variety of skills that you can learn.
#7 Trust your gut
If something, a place or a person doesn’t feel right, trust your guts and take action. It may be that you feel unsafe or feel as though you are being watched. Don’t take the risk, instead, you should move quickly to a space where you feel comfortable and safe. This could be a friend’s house, or just a busy, well-lit main street.
Make sure you follow these safety tips whenever you are out of the house and walking alone. This will ensure you keep yourself safe by being aware of your surroundings, alert to suspicious activity, and mentally and physically prepared, should something happen.
