You’re not weird or wrong for wanting to be liked, but are you going about it the wrong way?
The best way to get people on side is to be your authentic self, treat them with kindness and respect, and just… chill out a bit. However, if you’re guilty of these habits, you could be coming off as a bit try-hard and desperate, and most people won’t respond well to it.
1. You apologise for absolutely everything.
Sorry becomes your automatic response to everything. You apologise when someone bumps into you. You say sorry before asking simple questions at work. Every email starts with an unnecessary apology. You apologise so much that your genuine apologies lose all meaning. People start seeing you as insecure rather than polite. Your constant stream of sorries makes everyone around you feel awkward and uncomfortable.
2. You name-drop in every conversation.
Every story somehow includes that one time you met someone famous. You squeeze in mentions of important people you barely know. Regular conversations turn into lists of who you’ve encountered. You think it makes you sound connected, but everyone sees through it. Even your actual connections get overshadowed by your obvious bragging. People start avoiding conversations with you because they’re tired of hearing about your “important” friends.
3. You overshare on social media.
Source: Unsplash Every coffee, every workout, every minor achievement gets documented. You stage regular moments to look perfect for photos. Your social media notifications never stop buzzing. You spend more time capturing moments than living them. The constant need for validation shines through every carefully filtered post. Each time you refresh your feed hoping for more likes, you’re showing just how much your self-worth depends on digital approval.
4. You laugh too loudly at everyone’s jokes.
Source: Unsplash Every slightly funny comment gets an over-the-top reaction. You force laughter even when things aren’t funny. Your fake laugh becomes your signature sound. You think it makes you seem fun and engaged. That exaggerated response just makes everyone uncomfortable. People start telling jokes just to watch you perform your obviously fake reaction.
5. You agree with whatever anyone says.
Your opinion changes based on who you’re talking to. You nod along with everything, even contradictory views. Your personality shifts to match whoever’s around. You never take a real stand on anything. People can’t trust your input because it’s never genuinely yours. Eventually, they stop asking for your opinion altogether because they know it’s just a reflection of what they want to hear.
6. You brag about being busy.
Every conversation includes how swamped you are. You list off your packed schedule without being asked. Your exhaustion becomes your main personality trait. You think it makes you sound important and in-demand. Nobody’s impressed by your inability to manage your time. Your constant complaints about being busy just make you sound like you can’t handle normal adult responsibilities.
7. You fish for compliments constantly.
You point out your achievements, hoping someone notices. Your self-deprecating comments are clearly calls for praise. You post photos with captions begging for validation. Every conversation somehow turns toward your latest win. The constant need for approval makes people pull away. They start giving you fake compliments just to make you stop fishing for them.
8. You rush into instant best-friendship.
You call people besties after one coffee date. You plan future trips with people you barely know. Your intensity scares off potential real friends. You force intimacy before it develops naturally. Your rush for closeness pushes people to keep their distance. What could have been genuine friendships get ruined by your desperate need to lock them down immediately.
9. You show off your expensive stuff.
Source: Unsplash Brand names always face forward in your photos. You drop prices into casual conversation. Every purchase becomes an announcement. You think it makes you look successful. All it shows is your need to prove your worth through things. People start noticing how you position your designer labels in every photo and cringe at your obvious status-seeking.
10. You pretend to know about everything.
You can’t admit when something’s new to you. You fake knowledge about topics you’ve never studied. You jump into conversations with half-baked facts. You think it makes you look smart and well-informed. Your obvious bluffing just highlights your insecurity. The real experts in the room exchange knowing looks every time you try to sound knowledgeable about their field.
11. You constantly check your phone.
Your phone stays face-up during every conversation. You grab it the second it buzzes, and you scroll while other people are talking. You think it makes you look important and in-demand. It just shows you’re desperate not to miss anything. Real connections pass you by while you’re busy proving how many digital ones you have.
12. You try too hard to be unique.
Every opinion becomes an extreme take. You reject popular things just to be different. Your contrarian views feel forced and fake. You think it makes you interesting and original. People see right through your manufactured uniqueness. Your desperate attempts to stand out actually make you more predictable than anyone else.
13. You invite yourself everywhere.
You jump into plans you weren’t included in. You show up at events without checking first. You force your way into group activities. You think being present equals being wanted. Your lack of boundaries makes people avoid mentioning their plans. Groups start making secret plans just to avoid your self-invitation routine.
14. You obsess over social media likes.
You check reactions to your posts constantly, delete anything that doesn’t get enough attention, and time your posts for maximum engagement. You even track who views your stories. Your obvious hunger for approval makes people interact less. Each desperate refresh of your notifications shows exactly how much power you’ve given to little heart-shaped icons.
15. You try to impress everyone you meet.
Source: Unsplash Every interaction becomes a performance. You rehearse casual conversations in your head and drop impressive facts into basic chats. In other words, you exhaust yourself trying to be memorable. The harder you try to stand out, the more people notice your desperation. What you don’t realise is that your need to impress actually pushes away the very people you’re trying to win over.
