How To Make Friends As An Introvert: A Guide To Help You Build Connections
Making an effort to stay in touch and show interest in friends’ lives can help keep friendships going over time. Introversion may seem like a detriment when it comes to making friends, but the truth is that they have some great strengths in this arena. While they may not be as outgoing or as ready to spend time in socializing with groups, they can be just the right one to get to know a person who interests them. So be patient and don’t give up if you don’t make new friends immediately.
But at least then you had set-up opportunities to meet new people, whether it was in class or a club. Chances are that you don’t love your dearest friends based on how witty and gregarious they are. You can trust them to listen to your problems without judgement. As an introvert, you likely embody all of these qualities and more. When I was younger, I spent a lot of time hanging out with loud, extremely talkative extroverts who didn’t know how to listen. On the one hand, we sincerely do want to connect with people.
Introverts comprise a third of the population, and many have difficulty making friends. Call or email us.Want help choosing the right therapist? Discover why your husband is always angry, learn coping skills for an angry partner, avoid eggshell stress, and support your partner in relationship issues. Reaching out to old classmates, coworkers, or neighbours can feel less intimidating than starting from scratch and gives you a head start in getting to know someone better. So how do you take your favorite relationships from skimming-the-surface to ocean-deep? Here are four tips from one introvert to another (and yes, I really use these).
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Early in my marketing career, I felt overwhelmed by the idea of networking and making work friends. If you are interested in learning more about the Mastermind or in creating a community of your own, reach out to me at angela@the-trybe.com to start the conversation. Keep in mind that trying something new doesn’t mean changing who you are as a person.
That way, you’ll be able to look for groups, events, and gatherings that interest you much easier. To help you get started, you have to figure out the types of people you would like to meet first. But it can even be more challenging if you ruminate a lot and prefer to spend time by yourself. It’s like going to the gym, you can’t expect to bench 300 pounds right off the bat if you never lifted a day in your life.
Being vulnerable and open with others can create a sense of trust and intimacy in friendships. Good friends show genuine interest in others and ask thoughtful questions to help build connections and create meaningful relationships. Joining groups or clubs based on common interests can be a great way for introverts to meet new people and make friends. Attending networking events or parties can be overwhelming, but focusing on small talk and finding one or two people to connect with can make the experience more manageable. Another way to make friends as an introvert is by using your natural strengths to your advantage. You might be an excellent observer, a good listener or someone who remembers details others forget.
If you find yourself repeatedly settling for friendships that don’t feel good, consider why this might be. I believed that walking away from unfulfilling friendships made me a jerk. I wasted so much energy on painful friendships that I couldn’t even imagine finding and nourishing true friendships. Nowadays, things are much different thanks to a few key steps I took to turn things around. You may also volunteer for a cause or organization that aligns with your values to meet like-minded people and build connections. Taking a class or workshop can also be a fun and interactive way to meet new people and learn a new skill as well.
Introverts can be leaders and good ones too because they listen to people, focus on long-term goals, and are more receptive to suggestions. Some of the best leaders in the world were and are introverts. Think of Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi, and Barack Obama. People are quick to think they know or understand introversion, and this is how misconceptions form. Focus on the shared interests you’ve already discussed. When a colleague mentions an upcoming event or challenge, make a mental note to ask about it next time.
Learning to balance alone time with social interaction lets you show up fully when it matters most. Prioritizing rest helps empower introverts to engage meaningfully without the risk of burnout. Joining a class or group around a shared interest, like art, hiking, or gaming, creates regular opportunities to interact with people who already have something in common with you. Connecting online allows you to engage at your own pace and interact with others who share your interests, helping conversations flow naturally without pressure.
It doesn’t need to be face-to-face; sliding into someone’s DMs is a great way to make friends. Here are a couple of easy-to-find group activities to try that are available in almost every place. The introverts of the world would much rather be at home, cuddled up in bed with a cup of tea, the cat, and a Netflix binge marathon on the horizon. Or maybe an early evening jog by yourself to calm the nerves after a long day. Do you feel like the only person in your family that isn’t celebrated, or that you are always on the receiving end of emotional drama? You can also use the app to record happy moments with your friends, which you can look back on and cherish later.
Tips
- All of this isn’t to say that outgoing extroverts are the bad guys.
- Understanding your own energy patterns, preferences, and strengths can guide you toward successful new friendships.
- Adult introverts often struggle with shyness, social anxiety, and a fear of rejection.
- Forced to interact, even when things didn’t turn out well.
A consistent routine creates space for the friendship to grow, naturally. Studies demonstrate that having a specific role boosts involvement and engagement in group activities. Volunteer for tasks at social events that suit your strengths. Most of those connections have turned into deep and meaningful in-person relationships as well. Meeting new people through your friends is a great way to figure out how to build a social circle.
For you, time alone is as essential to your mental health as is sleeping or eating to your physical body. Not having enough solo time can cause mental frustration, resentment and fatigue to set in. However, with the right strategies, like therapy, practicing self-compassion, and cognitive reframing, introverts can navigate friendships in a way that feels more comfortable. If you’re an introvert who struggles to build the meaningful friendships you crave (and who doesn’t?), here are nine tips. Making friends as an introvert can be tough, but it’s doable and definitely worth it.
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If you do it too often, they may start feeling like you don’t want to spend time with them. Plan activities that you both enjoy so that you can have a great time without feeling drained afterward. A very thoughtful way to show you care is to reach out on the anniversary of the death of a loved one. You don’t have to say much – you know it’s a tough day for them, so let them know you’re there for them if they need to talk. You just might have to put in a little extra effort to make them.
Imagine joining a small cooking class, hoping to connect with others over a shared interest. But when you arrive, you notice others already chatting in small groups. You turn your focus inward and observe your own thoughts and feelings during the class, without chiming in to any group conversations. You focus on preparing the entrée by yourself and leave the class feeling lonely. In college, I learned a hard lesson about waiting for people to come to me.
Learn how to approach and talk to anybody no matter how shy you are. Let them know that you’re looking to meet more people with the same interests as you. Since you already have some sort of rapport with them, all you have to do is to keep nurturing that friendship. If you want to know how to make friends as an introvert, you need to accept who you are.
In choosing friendships, it’s important to make connections with people on a genuine level. Latamjoy Some people are not that skilled in engaging others with conversation. One way to keep your discussion going is to ask simple questions.
The easiest way to make new friends as an introvert is to do activities you love or are curious about. This may seem obvious, but the one thing you’ll know for sure is that you all share a common interest. We want the kind of friends you have when you’re a kid, when you can talk about everything or nothing and never bother with small talk. But as adults, it can be hard to make these kinds of friendships. Being open and honest with friends and communicating needs and boundaries can help prevent conflicts and maintain healthy friendships.