It does not matter what your personality type is, everyone needs social activities to meet their need for belonging. In most cases, social needs are met more easily by people with extroverted personality types due to their increased ease in interacting with strangers and forming relationships more quickly.
While finding like-minded social companions for the introvert is more challenging, there are a variety of sociable activities that are a perfect fit. Some really fun ideas for social activities that introverts can do are discussed below.
1.Clubs
Just because someone is an introvert does not mean being a club member is out of the question. Many introverts belong to astronomy, photography and radio clubs. Some of these clubs meet in person in small groups and some meet online.
For those who do not have the opportunity to meet face to face, they can enjoy the anonymity offered by online communication or through ham radio interactions.
The anonymity allows the quiet shy introvert to socially interact with a larger group without feeling the social pressures of a large face-to-face group.
- Find local clubs and groups in your area. (succeedsocially.com)
- Join a local astronomy club – Great activity for introverts. (skyandtelescope.com)
2.Sports
While some introverts enjoy playing on a sport team, others do like the competition aspect. Maybe a person has always wanted to play basketball and the competition piece of the sport held them back, they can always ask a friend to go to an outside basketball court and have fun practicing.It is the same for a more individualized sport like golf. If you and a friend do not feel you play well enough to tee off at a golf club, both of you can go to a driving range and have a lot of fun.
3.Vacations
Even though large crowds at airports and hotel registrations are involved during vacation trips, introverts can manage this if accompanied by a support network.
The social activities involved in vacation planning include many gatherings to decide where to go, what to take, what to see and who to invite provide a lot of fun prior to the trip itself.
How much social interaction you have outside the travel group is your choice. If on a cruise the social aspect of dining with a few strangers at your table is too much pressure, you can make alternative arrangements.
4.Volunteers
Being a volunteer does not mean you have to interact with a large group of strangers. For instance, you may choose to volunteer at the SPCA. While you are going there to help with animals you have the opportunity to meet and get to know the other volunteers and socially interact.
You may choose to volunteer to work with a small church group or a soup kitchen that provides meals for different occasions. You do not have to work out on the floor serving guests, you can always work behind the scenes in the kitchen and socialize with the other food preparers.
Another different way to meet and socialize is to join a small group that is doing something for charity – perhaps sewing pajamas for orphans in a third world country. You are contributing to a humanitarian effort and socializing at the same time.
5.Entertainment
Just because you are an introvert does not mean you cannot enjoy the theatre, musical groups and movies. Although these events include a large number of people, attendance does not mean you have to socialize with everyone present.
If a stranger does initiate a conversation with you, it most likely will be a comment on the performance and you will be prepared without any pressure to respond.
6.Projects
What is more fun than having someone help with a project that has the same enthusiasm as you do? Working together on something with a common goal provides a great opportunity to turn a task into a social event.
Whether it is painting a wall, designing a garden or helping a neighbor repair a lawn mower, doing it together turns it into a social activity.
Having a cup of coffee or a pizza afterward only increases the fun.
7.Road Trips
Road trips, like vacations, involve a lot of planning, decision making and preparation – all social events.
Road trips, like visiting a particular or new place, regular or holiday shopping or visiting the psychic fair can turn into monthly or annual social activities before you know it.
- Grab a friend and go to the nearest sci-fi convention. (upcomingcons.com)
8.Work Shops
Learning does not have to occur in isolation. Have you always wanted to try something new like painting, woodworking or knitting? These are social activities that an introvert can do in a small setting.
Whether you go alone or take a friend, you share a common interest with the other participants. In fact, you will probably end up initiating a new social connection.
9.Exercise
You do not have to walk alone. You can turn this everyday activity into a sociable event by simply including a friend and better yet taking your dog and a friend with a dog!
- Fitness motivation and how-to guides. (nerdfitness.com)
10.Coffee or Tea and a Talk
What better time to socialize than over a cup of coffee with a trusted confidant. It provides you with a time to share your dreams, discuss books, problems, spirituality and whatever else is important in your world.
You can do this in each other’s homes or even better at a favourite spot down town to make it more of a social event. Everyone needs to share feelings in a safe environment.
While an introvert’s social network may appear small to some, they are phenomenal at socializing in their preferred way. Perhaps their social preference for small groups saves them from misinterpretation, conflict and criticism that sometimes occur in larger groups.
Kim Cosmos says
Introversion is commonly misunderstood in these guides to be social anxiety or shyness. Those are just side effects of lack of experience. Really it is extreme boredom with trivial small talk. Its not hard to bond. Introverts find making friends super easy because of their rapport and insight skills. They just don’t like it. A friend in need is a pain in the arse. I talk to myself because I want intelligent conversation. People mistakenly assume they are deeply bonding very fast when talking to an introvert and then feel hurt when they find the introvert was just passing the time and is not interested. In summary… friends are easily replaced, friends are work, friends are mostly shallow and needy. In USA dictionaries asocial means antisocial. The UK has it right… it means not social. Simply… introverts seek quality and avoid quantity.