By SARAH SMAGUR
Athens/Living Editor

After attending Spring Formal, I realized how great a compliment can make you feel. People were walking around left and right, complimenting everyone on how wonderful they looked, their hair, dress, tie, or dance moves.
Compliments have an incredible impact on us, but there is actually science behind how compliments affect us.
An article in Psychology Today discussed how being complimented fulfills two of our most basic needs – the need to feel importantn and the need to feel loved.
What is less-known is that by giving a compliment, you are also increasing your own well being. You increase your own self-esteem by making others feel important.
Given all this, an important question arises: how can I be better at giving compliments?
Be genuine. People can tell when you are being genuine, and they appreciate your sincerity. Giving someone a compliment and not being truthful negates the compliment you gave them in the first place. A part of giving a genuine compliment is not exaggerating. It’s okay to say something was delicious without it being the “best thing you’ve ever eaten.”
Be specific. As a master complimenter, you must pay attention to detail. Giving a general compliment isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s always nice to remind people that you are paying attention, and have taken a real interest in their lives.
Be unique. Some people receive the same compliments a lot. Instead, try to tell them something they’ve never heard and will never hear again. Being unique can be a challenge, but it will set your compliment apart and give it more impact.
Acknowledge their efforts. If someone does anything that you feel goes above and beyond the call of duty or even completes their job well, be sure to let them know how much you appreciate them. Another great way to compliment is by describing the effect something has on you. Let them know if what they did inspired you in some way. This will make them work harder, knowing their efforts have touched people’s lives.
Don’t feel awkard. Passing out compliments is nothing to feel awkard about. I know there are times when I didn’t give someone a compliment, because I was worried it would sound strange, but there is nothing strange about making someone else feel great.
Even if they are a stranger, feel free to let them know you like their outfit or haircut. They can walk through their day with their head held higher knowing that someone took appreciation of them.
Use descriptive language. Anybody can say “that’s pretty.” Try expanding your vocabulary, and using more descriptive words. This will enhance the compliment, and make it memorable.
Don’t be backhanded with your compliments. Sometimes people give compliments, to disguise an insult. If you’re going to go through the effort of complimenting someone, be genuine. Example: “Nice nails, are they real?” Feel free to leave off the part that would make someone question whether or not your compliment was from a place of sincerity.
Don’t wait for the perfect moment. It’s always the perfect moment to make someone feel great about themselves. Nothing could be less genuine than trying to make a moment feel authentic. Don’t try so hard to be heard by a ton of people, and start a huge conversation. It’s okay to give a quick and genuine boost.
Don’t be stingy with your compliments. Whether you follow these tips or not, complimenting people should be something we all love to do, and something we all do way more often.
If you like someone’s outfit, let them know. You never know, that little compliment could be the highlight of their day!
Don’t forget to compliment the people who already know you care. No matter who they are in your life, reminding them much you appreciate them each day is sure to make them feel great.
It’s always nice to have a reminder that you are loved and thought of.
You should consider all of the above guidelines and not hard and fast rules.
The most important thing to remember is that you should be genuinely appreciating people.
Compliments are a great way to show people that you care. So feel free to let the good vibes flow.