How To Make Friends As An Introvert Practical Step-by-step Guide

Introverts like to keep to themselves, and it can be easy for them to witness extroversion and wonder if there’s some secret to making friends easily that they just haven’t cracked yet. Making friends as an adult is always a bit of a challenge. Finally, if you want to identify YOUR personality type, then take one of these 11 personality tests to better understand what makes you tick.

How Can I Make Friends Online?

This falls under the people-pleasing umbrella and makes any friendship one-sided, which isn’t fair on your extroverted friend or person. Plus, you can only have real, deep friendships when you are unequivocally yourself. You can find a friend online via various groups and apps. That’s how you bond, and shared interests give you something to chat about. My best friend and I share a love of learning, teaching, writing, and horses, so we always have something to talk and giggle about. It’s easier to make friends when you have something in common with the person (or already know you have).

When you know you want a friend or two for the right reasons, you can set out to make yourself some besties. The best part of being an introvert (for me) is getting to someone’s core. I prefer to scoot right past the weather and dig into all the experiences, travels, and feelings that make you tick. Between the anxiety (introvert vs social anxiety) and the exhaustion of traditional socializing, many introverts end up feeling stuck and lonely. If you think it’s hard to make friends as an adult, you aren’t alone in that sentiment.

And always prioritize self-care and set boundaries to ensure you maintain a healthy balance between social interactions and alone time. For introverts who struggle with shyness or social anxiety, building social confidence is an important step towards making friends. By addressing these challenges head-on, introverts can develop the necessary skills and mindset to navigate social interactions more comfortably. Two key areas to focus on are overcoming shyness and social anxiety, as well as developing effective communication skills. Making friends as an adult introvert is absolutely achievable! Introversion refers to a personality trait where individuals feel more energized by solitary activities than social interactions.

Introverts can easily spend hours at a coffee shop talking with their like-minded friends about their shared interests. Understanding your communication style can also help you make friends as an introvert. You may not enjoy talking for hours or making the first move, and that’s completely okay. What matters is showing genuine interest and being present in the interaction.

How To Make Friends As An Adult: Your Top Questions Answered

But that doesn’t mean all introverts are shy or are always shy. All the extroverts make it seem so easy to make and have friends. An extrovert seems to be like a lighted candle, and all the moths (aka many friends) are just attracted to the candle and dance and flutter about.

As you work on developing new relationships, try to keep in perspective just how much time and energy you actually have to give. Many introverted people do have several close friends, but the fact remains that introverts will always need time to recharge alone. But I learned that friendships don’t usually “just happen” — unless an extrovert adopts me (and that’s not the goal here; we’re trying to make like-minded friends).

Learn to say no when needed and communicate your needs openly and honestly. Taking care of your mental and emotional well-being is crucial for making meaningful connections and maintaining healthy friendships. Shyness and social anxiety can make it challenging for introverts to initiate conversations and engage in social settings.

• Your strong points might rest in certain personality traits, behaviors, or skills.
• It can be scary to be so vulnerable with a stranger, but telling someone, “I really enjoy your company,” gets easier with practice.
• If shutdowns cause separation, there are always Zoom happy hours.
• Start by setting small, achievable goals, such as introducing yourself to one new person at an event or joining a conversation with a small group.

Too many friendships will tire you out, but you’ll have energy and time to invest in a quality friendship (or two). Extroverts feel energized when they are around people, and that’s why they thrive in social settings. On the other hand, introverts need time by themselves to recharge because being around others is mentally taxing. As such, if you are an introvert, you know how wonderful it is to be in a quiet and more intimate environment – by yourself or with a small group of your inner circle. When it comes to adult friendships, you can’t rely on a mutual dislike of your 8 a.m. To find out if you and another person “click,” you have to ask questions.

They are creative and thoughtful people with much to offer in friendships. Instead of expecting to make a best friend immediately, aim to have a few brief conversations each month. Focus on specific targets, like attending one social event per week or messaging a new acquaintance bi-weekly. Progress may take time, so celebrate small victories, like sharing a smile or exchanging names. Human beings are social by nature, and even introverts need supportive and trusted friends who they can rely on. Introverts must learn to recognize when they do or don’t have the energy to commit to plans and take time to recharge when they need it.

In this section, I provide my top 10 tips for the first 6 months of a new friendship, including LISTENING!!! Attending social events can be a really rewarding way to push yourself out of your comfort zone and into the world of new experiences and friendships. Being an introvert isn’t a limitation and there is absolutely nothing “wrong” with choosing to https://mecabricks.com/en/user/margaret.miller have a small circle of friends.

Take some time to examine your own traits and acknowledge things you do well. Your strong points might rest in certain personality traits, behaviors, or skills. You don’t have to talk with anyone the first time you go. But if you enjoy yourself, show up again and try connecting with someone you recognize. If your existing hobbies don’t provide many opportunities for connection, you might consider a new approach. Seeking out people with similar interests in hobbies, activities, or schools of thought can be key to creating lasting bonds.

But that doesn’t mean that your introverted or extroverted personality affects how kind and friendly you are. A person who identifies as an introvert exhibits introversion characteristics. What essentially defines an introvert (and distinguishes these people from extroverts) is how they get and spend energy (or process the world).

Social hobbies are particularly important for adults in midlife because they naturally open avenues for new friendships at a time when we are evolving into a new version of ourselves. They bring joy and a sense of achievement, as well as provide a social framework that supports us emotionally and makes us feel less alone. I hear from a lot of introverts who tend to attract loud, overbearing personalities. Even though they don’t really like spending time with such people, they tolerate the friendship.