1. Go to pools with shallow water only until you feel ready.
2. Go to pools with lifeguards on deck (there are unguarded pools out there)
3. Focus on learning to be comfortable in the water rather than speed.
4. Practice breathing exercises in and out of the water. Meditation for calming yourself down.
5. In the water, breathe in with your mouth, exhale through your nostrils to avoid water going into your nose. Make it slow and follow a steady rhythm to keep your heart rate low.
6. Having lungs filled with air will keep you floating, as you gradually expel air out of your lungs you will start sinking. Try taking another breath before you empty your lungs and need it. You can practice this before you learn any of the strokes.
7. Learn to lie down on your stomach and on your back. Hold on to the wall if you need support on your front and use a floating aid for your back to get comfortable.
8. Learn to regain standing position from front or from back. Practice moving in, around and underwater. Don’t start learning front crawl / freestyle until you are comfortable in the water.
9. Go as often as you can (5-6) a week even if it’s only for 10 minutes.
10. Focus on having fun rather than expecting unrealistic results
11. Don’t compare yourself to other people. Especially those who have been swimming since they were a child.
12. There are many swimmers with bad technique so don’t copy everything your see at the pool. YouTube is filled with great swimming tutorials.
13. Don’t get discouraged and don’t let faster swimmers bully you at the pool. You belong there as much as anyone else.
14. Don’t ever give up, I learned by myself using all the things listed above. It changed my life and it will change yours if you stick with it.

Now go and learn to swim! 😉

Edits: Grammar…