I know that it’s not easy to always have energy for everything and keeping in touch and I’ve lost more than one friendship because I became too introverted. Your first two years especially are the time to shop around and see what clubs you’re interested in. Even if you don’t end up being a permanent member, making yourself visible and getting to know the people around you can lead to friendships that transcend whatever club you’re in. For example, during my first year I went to the meetings of the Academic Achievement Program, a club designed to be a space for students in marginalized communities. There was one girl I saw there all the time, and I found out we lived in the same building. Now, we have known each other over two years, and I’m producing one of her short films.
True friendship does require effort, and success can take time. Once a fledgling friendship begins to take off, keep it thriving by finding new ways to connect. You might plan picnic lunches outside with your co-worker, for example, or accompany your neighbor to a gardening show. Getting to know someone generally starts with the simple act of listening to what they say. Many introverts do this already, so try to take it a step further and offer something in return. It never hurts to start seeking connections in the things you already do.
How Can Introverts Sustain Friendships?
During the introverted week, their well-being went down. Perhaps you and your neighbor share the same gardening and television interests or you and your co-worker have pretty similar personalities. The important thing to realize is that everyone has different strengths. That’s a good thing — the world needs balance, after all. When you want a little change from www.orchidromance.com solitude, try the 10 tips below to connect with meaning.
Be Fully Present When You’re Together
Regular check-ins via technology, active listening, and sharing personal interests can deepen relationships while respecting their need for space and recharge time. Technology can facilitate connections for introverts by allowing them to engage in online communities or use platforms like Meetup.com to find like-minded individuals. Apps enable introverts to communicate at their own pace, making it easier to transition to in-person meetings.
When you do notice a lack of companionship, however, start by taking small steps to broaden your social horizons. If your best efforts to make new friends haven’t yielded much success, support from a therapist can make a difference. You’ll encounter plenty of different people in life, and you probably won’t click with every single one of them. It’s wise to go forward cautiously as you explore the level of interaction that works best for you.
Plus, most nights, introverts would rather stay home and relax than go out and socialize. Even when we enjoy ourselves, people can still be draining. Sharing your thoughts and feelings can invite others to open up and deepen friendships.
Do you find yourself feeling uncomfortable in social situations? Do you often feel like you’re the only one who doesn’t know what to say? If you ask someone for their thoughts on how Introverts make friends, they are likely to mention the possibility of initiating social contacts online. They’ll point out (accurately) that a person’s natural Introverted traits won’t limit them quite as much when you’re interacting virtually. Checking in, staying in touch, whatever you want to call it, is critical to maintaining friendships. Now that you’re making new friends you want to stay in touch with them on a regular basis.
It’s better to have one or two friends in your inner circle than having many friends. 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. To maintain friendships, introverts should be direct about their needs and set clear boundaries.
- Some people even work with friendship coaches to explore new ways to relate to others.
- This can make us less likely to try new things, where we might meet new friends, especially if we want to meet people who share our existing, specific interests.
- It’s also important to remember that rejection is not a reflection of your worth as a person.
- To learn more about how Introverts make friends, it never hurts to ask other Introverts how they’ve done it.
- In general, introverts prefer to have a few people in their inner circle and they’ll open up to the right people.
People may not approach them because they seem uninterested or aloof. You just might have to put in a little extra effort to make them. It’s surprising how few people really understand the role of body language in communication.
