Obviously, we want to encourage you and not discourage you, grappler. Side control is no place to hang out. It's like walking into a bar filled with very unattractive people or a public bathroom with a mysteriously hideous odor. Immediate departure is necessary.
There are many, many ways to get out of side control Hopefully, you're training under a good coach and learning all the basics on a daily basis and reinforcing those skills via daily combat (aka free training or sparring, whatever you call it). But, more knowledge (in BJJ, at least) is, without question, a good thing.
Here's a technique from world-class UK black belt, Oli Geddes, that combines several solid movements to get you properly out of the mess you got yourself into. Very smart and explained quite well.