Harsh truth of life – you can’t please everybody. But since people are social creatures (unless you’re a total scrooge), you just have to learn how to get along. Most of these tips are common sense. Still we lapse in doing so. So take these tips as reminders on how to get along with people.

Here are 5 Don’ts to help you get along with people:

• Don’t be so touchy

  It doesn’t really help you to be so sensitive. If you raise hell for the trivial things, then ask yourself, “Why am I offended by this? Why do I feel annoyed?” Introspection will show you that it’s not really big a deal at all.

  People joke around and most of the time, these can be playful remarks with no intention to offend you. As long as it doesn’t really hurt your pride and principles, just go along with the ride.

• Don’t lose your temper

  Quick to lose your temper? Try slow-counting one to ten. Breathe. Getting angry easily over trivial things will make people move away from you.

  If you constantly get angry (or even look it), you’ll easily ward people off even if you don’t mean to. You won’t become approachable with such an angry demeanor. Besides, too much anger brings too much stress. And that’s not good for you at all.

• Don’t be annoying

  There are several ways you can annoy people, even if you don’t mean it. Never expect that every day’s a great day for everyone. Not all of us have good days and bad days. If you sense other people having a bad day and wanting some space and time to themselves, give them that. If people tell you frankly that one of your habits annoy them, better start making some changes. Chances are, they’re for the better.

• Don’t gossip

  No one likes people who talk behind their backs. You might be the life of the water cooler in the office but everyone will start to hate you with what you do. Your trust factor goes down every time you gossip.

• Don’t be an arrogant jerk.

  Sheer arrogance has no room in this world. There’s absolutely no reason to think lowly of other people. So don’t carry a demeaning attitude. Everyone’s got brains, and you don’t know what other people are really capable of.

Here are 5 Dos to help you get along with people:

• Greet people

  Smile. Greet people a good day (or whatever time of day it is). It doesn’t do people harm. It also gives people the impression that you’re open and approachable.

• Share

  Be it some mint in your pocket or a bag of chips, ask people would want some if followed by a handing gesture.

• Lend a helping hand

  Simple gestures like helping people carry a load or holding a door for them, go a long way.

• Smile

  Perhaps the easiest way to introduce yourself, smiling is part of us being human. There’s a great reason why it takes less muscles to smile than to frown. Nature just intended us to smile more.

• Respect others

  The world’s full of differences. However, prejudice is so last century. So learn to acknowledge people’s uniqueness and respect them. It’s the only way other people with tolerate your own unique person.