Many people associate introversion with shyness or social anxiety, which is an absolute mistake. Being an introvert means focusing more on your internal feelings and thoughts with the tendency to be more introspective, reserved, and quiet than others. In most cases, individuals with this personality trait prefer to spend time alone to recharge their energy bars.
Introverts enjoy their solitude with either just themselves or a small group of friends. They also love independence and are very self-aware. If you identify yourself with some of these introverted characteristics, understand that it’s not an all-or-nothing trait. Depending on the setting or situation, your introverted ways can change. But if socializing is one of your frailties, you may find these fun and engaging hobbies helpful.
1. Travel
Traveling is one of the best ways for your introverted self to explore and meet new people. You can go on a solo trip to give you more time alone while working at your own pace in terms of talking to locals and trying new activities. You have the freedom to recharge or explore whenever you want without seeking others’ opinions or permission. If solo traveling sounds too liberating for you, you can always go with a friend.
Having someone you trust and are comfortable with can make it easier for you to try new and exciting activities and start connections with others. You and your travel buddy can also join group hiking, cycling, and other outdoor activities or local events.
2. Volunteer work
Volunteering is a fulfilling task that can help you go out there, create amazing experiences, and develop new relationships. As you devote your time and energy to helping others, you also get to interact with community members and other volunteers. Another good news is, there’s a wide variety of volunteering opportunities out there that you can participate in. If you want to start in activities that involve more action and less talking, some of the best options are volunteering in an animal shelter, planting trees, picking or collecting garbage in public areas, or doing deliveries.
If you’re ready for more interaction, you can opt for more demanding volunteer opportunities. A few examples are mentoring teens or children in the neighborhood, organizing community events, running a fundraiser, or volunteering to coach a sports team.
3. Car restoration
Auto restoration is a popular hobby for many car enthusiasts. There’s something fulfilling in maintaining and restoring cars with historical or personal value. The best thing is, you can use your garage to start this hobby, and of course, some tools and equipment. Most car restoration workshops invest in equipment like air compressors or vehicle lifts. You can make yours more unique and modern by getting a mid-range or specialty car wheel balancer.
Tire balancing is an often neglected work in car restoration. But it’s crucial for preventing uneven tread wear or too much vibrating or shaking of the car while on the road. Car restoration may be a costly hobby, but it’s also a good way to earn money. As for benefiting your social needs, car restoration enables you to make connections with fellow car enthusiasts and potential clients. You can even showcase your work at car events.
4. Reading
Reading is a pretty common hobby for many introverts. But if you think that reading is a good escape from the outside world, you’re wrong. Your love for books opens up new opportunities for interaction. For one, there are thousands of book clubs out there that you can join where you share your interests or favorite reads with other people. The best part is, you don’t necessarily need to leave your house.
You can have discussions with your book club members at home. You can find book clubs online or check the local library in your area if they have one. If you’re planning to join one, don’t hesitate to meet up with the club members for a drink. Reading and book clubs may not sound like a man’s first choice when it comes to hobbies, but it surely is a good way to increase your knowledge and expand your network.
5. Physical fitness
If you love working out or you’re into sports, you have tons of chances in your path to creating new connections. The simplest one is going to a gym, where you can work out properly while still getting to meet fellow fitness enthusiasts. If availing of membership at the gym seems expensive to you, you can instead join a local walking or hiking group.
These activities cannot just enhance your social skills but also help keep you physically and mentally healthy. Other physical activities that are socially good for you are bowling, paintballing, rock climbing, martial arts, and any other group sports.
Introvert or not, everyone is a social being. These social hobbies can help make it easier for you to interact with people and become more open to external stimulation. If you find it hard to engage with these hobbies on your own, do it with a loved one or a friend. By being with people you’re comfortable with, doing things that are new or awkward for you won’t be much of a headache.
