How to Not Be Annoying

If you find strangers casting irritated glances your way or hear that a friend or family member is avoiding you because of your annoying habits, it's time to take a look at those personality traits. Curb behavior that you may not even realize is bothering the people around you.

Instructions

1. Match your tone of voice and how loud you're speaking to the location and event. Talking and laughing above the crowd noise is fine if you're at a baseball game or concert, but will embarrass those around you if you're dining at a restaurant.

2. Let the other person choose the topic or discuss their problems rather than monopolizing the conversation with your interests. Listen closely as they talk. It's rude to choose the television, your cell phone or the sight of another girl over the person who's speaking to you. It's even more annoying when you ask them to repeat themselves or fail to answer questions because you didn't hear them.

3. Be punctual. Get ready well in advance, leave early and arrive on time so you won't keep your friends, appointments or the rest of the class waiting.

4. Show courtesy for those around you. You'll annoy most everyone if you slam the door at the library, sigh repeatedly in a quiet theater or tap your foot or pencil during exams, for example.

5. Respect personal space, particularly with people you've just met. It's disturbing when someone stands too close when they're talking or touches you repeatedly to emphasize a point.

6. Wait your turn to talk to someone rather than interrupting another conversation. Be courteous of others' needs-if you're listening to a lecture, for example, ask one or two important questions, then let the speaker and the rest of the audience have the floor.

7. Appoint a close friend or family member to monitor your behavior and honestly let you know if you're doing something annoying. Sometimes you may not realize that your enthusiasm has caused your voice to rise, for example, and it helps if someone gives you a gentle reminder.

Tips & Warnings

• Become familiar with signs that you're annoying someone. For example, if they're glancing nervously at other audience members when you're talking too loudly at a play or looking lazily around the room because you've been talking about your sailboat for two hours, it's time to modify your behavior.