I am a socially awkward nerd. How can I become more social and mainstream?
Being social is something everyone learns, just like talking or writing, so you just need to approach it as such.
The number one thing to do is to get practice by talking with more people. It doesn’t matter if these are co-workers, members of a hobby club, or people in a class. Just get outside your home and talk with people.
Don’t worry about the “nerd” part of your question, focus on the “more social” part.
If you’re not sure how to behave, here are some tips: