Like the rest of humans, introverts are social beings. They need to communicate to thrive — just differently from extroverts.
But if you’re an introvert, you may find it difficult or even impossible to find ways of interacting without feeling constantly drained. It might be tempting to avoid socializing altogether. But you don’t have to.
Instead, find your pick out of these carefully selected social hobbies for introverts to help you grow.
Let’s dive right into it.
1. Dancing
As the type of personality few in words, introverts do a lot of communication through body language. This ability to express themselves through body movement makes it easy to learn to dance as well. Also, their observant and detail-oriented nature helps them understand the moves perceptively.
Therefore, taking up dancing as a hobby can help you express the unspoken feelings inside you, hence maintaining your mental health.
Naturally, dance classes and performances are drenched in music but include optional conversation before and after the dancing. Without the pressure to speak up like in talk-oriented social settings, you can choose the extent of interaction to take part in. Join dance classes, go for silent discos — just dance!
2. Volunteering
This is one of the most life-changing of all social hobbies for introverts. Apart from demonstrating your love for others, you’re able to make conversation with familiar and strange faces alike, boosting your social skills.
Of course, not all volunteering is introvert-friendly. You’re looking for activities that involve less talk and more action in kindness. Here are some introvert-friendly volunteering ideas to choose from:
- Planting trees
- Helping in an animal shelter
- Doing deliveries
- Babysitting
- Reading books to the elderly, the sick, or kids
- Cooking for a senior neighbor
- Doing yard work for a neighbor
- Picking garbage in a medium-traffic area
- Helping in non-profit organizations
Your heart aches for a cause. Even if you don’t know it yet, trying out some of the volunteering ideas above can get you to a cause you enjoy. It’s an honorable thing to serve.
3. Going Out for Movies
To go social as an introvert can mean spending time with lots of people, just not talking to them. What better setting as the movie theater?
Going out for movies helps you socialize with a friend who tags along or even a stranger beside you. Right here is a chance to socialize in empowering rather than draining moments.
Regularly keep in touch with the “coming soon” shows in various cinemas to choose the interesting ones. A break from your couch would be a great adventure plus getting to exchange perspectives with another person or two helps you grow mentally.
4. Participating in Bookclubs
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As an introvert, you probably like getting lost in books. If you could exchange views with others reading similar books, wouldn’t it be great? I bet it would.
So, get into existing book clubs around your area or create your own. While online book clubs are great, offline ones where you can socialize traditionally are better.
And if you haven’t yet, check out Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain and The Genius of Opposites: How Introverts and Extroverts Achieve Extraordinary Results Together by Dr. Jennifer Kahnweiler. These eye-opening books are great to share with your introverted and extroverted reading buddies.
5. Attending Workshops
Workshops are splendid avenues for meeting people with similar interests. Whether you’re attending a workshop related to your profession or learning about any of the social hobbies for introverts like knitting, cooking, and painting, workshops are great places to enrich your mastery and connect with people.
In workshops, there is less pressure to talk but more to listen. After the sessions, you can partake in few conversations interesting to you.
Apart from attending workshops, you can make your own. As you learn how things work and meet like-minded people, you can amass the courage to facilitate presentations of your own.
By all means, get out there to learn, and use that chance to connect.
6. Taking Group Trips
Group travel is now an insanely popular style of adventure. Apart from the sightseeing and the new activities to marvel at, group traveling provides an opportunity for small chats and bonding in action.
Activities like mountain climbing, sightseeing, and snorkeling require less talking and more doing, enabling connection in the enjoyment of new sights and experiences.
To be more comfortable, you can go for introvert group travels. This way, you can develop relationships with other introverts with who you can venture future travels.
7. Solo Traveling
Image by Jan Vašek from Pixabay
Traveling is a great way for introverts to get time alone to recharge and also meet new people. But it doesn’t have to be in a group for it to be a social hobby.
Even when traveling alone, you meet new people from many walks of life and get a chance to converse with them. You can always retreat to your hotel room or whatever solitary space so you can recharge.
Due to your observant nature, traveling would be eye-opening for you as an introvert. Since you like watching from the sidelines, you can soak up the narrative of the locality you go to and learn major lessons from new cultures.
8. Visiting Art Centers
Perceiving art is one gift many introverts are blessed with. Since art helps bring out unspoken emotion, it generally speaks to the introverts more comprehensively than extroverts.
That’s why art sighting is one of the best hobbies for introverts.
So go to art shows and view how breathtakingly artists bring out your inner joy and struggle. Witness the great marvels of communication through visuals. Who knows, it might intrigue you enough to do art on your own.
9. Photography
Benefiting one of the introvert’s superpowers of observation, photography is a common interest among introverts. Many capture nature and other phenomena in an amazingly artistic manner.
While a bustling crowd can be overwhelming, staying behind the camera can help you observe while avoiding the pressure to talk amidst the crowds. You can show up on any social occasion you’re invited to as a professional photographer or a volunteering one.
Social hobbies for introverts are all about getting you into activities that make your inner introvert tick and also benefit you socially in the long run. Photography is one such hobby for introverts.
10. Group Cycling
Image by Manfred Antranias Zimmer from Pixabay
In group cycling, no conversation is necessary. The unspoken connection through a shared experience is enough to communicate. And you not only get fit while cycling but also kindle lasting relationships.
You can join regular cyclists in your area of interest or an official cycling group. This social hobby for introverts is one you can partake in on a weekly or even a daily basis since it promotes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing, the fundamentals of a holistic lifestyle.
11. Group Hiking
Many introverts like to hike, and some people wonder how they enjoy it even when alone. This activity provides an introvert with space they need to recharge plus there’s so much to see, think and feel during the activity.
But instead of partaking in this hobby alone at all times, you can start joining hiking groups in your area or tag along with a friend. You may converse a little but it’s nothing that pressurizing to an introvert. This way, you can enjoy your hobby and get social at the same time.
12. Yoga
Photo by Anupam Mahapatra on Unsplash
This practice leans on introverted qualities like observation during meditation and quietness necessary for the practice. Apart from promoting mental wellbeing, this activity helps introverts get the workout they need through the physical movements of different yoga styles.
Coming to think of it, it’s like yoga was invented for introverts. And the best part is, although yoga doesn’t involve much talk, its supportive community brings a social connection introverts really need.
13. Group Running
Running provides an excellent emotional outlet for introverts. While its physical benefits stretch beyond the present, its mental perks are even greater. And if you like running, what better way to connect than with other runners?
In this case, you can join a local running group to keep you socially active as well. But even if you can’t find one near you, you can find other people who share your running routes. Since running discourages talk in nature, an introvert can fit into this social hobby perfectly.
14. Attending New Language Classes
Several studies report that bilingualism leads to social flexibility. Meaning, if you speak two or more languages, you increase your chances of communicating smoothly with people from all cultures and can adapt to different social situations better.
To amass these benefits, start learning a new language whether online or offline — preferably offline. Connect with others who are learning or are proficient in the language and initiate conversation.
Even if you’re not fluent, you can connect with the other person in deep conversation through a common language. This way, you create social networks that benefit your wellbeing and success.
15. Water Sporting
Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay https://www.whitewatermag.com/
Any social activity where you don’t have to talk but still connect with others is a viable social hobby for introverts. And water sports like snorkeling, kayaking, and surfing, among others, are no exception.
These activities not only help you crush stress while cruising waters but also help you connect with other “water sporters.” Since the activities require limited conversation, you won’t feel any pressure to.
16. Fitness Training
Good for your body and mind, this activity can be socially enriching as well. Instead of always training alone, join fitness training groups in your area or online.
Exchange ideas on diet and the training tactics as well, making conversation about life with like-minded people. Through this social hobby, you can create relationships that promote your focus on life goals apart from fitness.
17. Writing
Especially in extrovert-dominated spaces, introverts often cannot express themselves verbally. Yet, pouring their thoughts into writing almost comes as a natural instinct to them, therefore, making writing one of the best hobbies for introverts.
You can write comments on topics you’re passionate about on social media sites like Youtube, blog, write poetry — there’s always something to write as an introvert. Writing can be the therapy you seek and the hobby you enjoy.
Even better, writing provides a platform for feedback, otherwise known as social engagement. You get to talk to people replying to your comments and other content you put out there which can develop into social networks enriching both your personal and professional life.
Related: 33 Most Effective Self-Improvement Journal Prompts
18. Park Chess Playing
Since introverts are generally deep thinkers, they’re drawn to chess. Instead of playing it on your phone, why not play this board game with someone in the park?
The game needs lots of reasoning and little to no talk, making it a perfect hobby for introverts who desire mental growth plus social connection.
19. Playing Video Games
Photo by MART PRODUCTION from Pexels
According to a Myer Briggs Company white paper summarizing the needs of distinct personalities, video games are highly beneficial to introverts. This mind-stimulating activity is a hobby for many youngsters today with some even making a living off it.
Since it can cost you time if you play video games excessively, doing it with your buddies at a particular time during the week is a great way to exercise your hobby while inviting social interaction
20. Swimming
While swimming provides your body the mild and intense activity it needs to be fit, it also gives way to social interaction.
You can strike a conversation with someone while at the beach if you’re near a lake or ocean. But even when you only have access to swimming pools, try talking to new people there.
21. Paintballing
Image by superkevv from Pixabay
If you desire that video-game thrill but practically, paintball is the best social hobby for an introvert like you. This adventure-packed activity doesn’t involve pressure to talk but brings social connection while working as a team.
Find paintball facilities so you can learn to play the game with others. If you already know how to play, join team paintball games regularly to hone your skill and interact with the other team members.
22. Playing an Instrument in Music Group Clubs
Many introverts enjoy playing musical instruments since it serves as an emotional outlet. If you’re one of them, it’s time to use those skills to attain self-confidence and other social skills. Even if you’re learning, as long as you desire to play music, you’re good to go.
You can join music group clubs near you to meet new people. These people meet in particular places to practice their skills and sometimes even create a band so they can share their abilities with a bigger audience. Make group music playing your hobby for social growth.
23. Bowling
Bowling is quite an obvious social hobby for introverts. If you’re not throwing the ball, you’re in the sidelines, watching silently or changing a word or two with teammates and strangers.
This activity is widely available within the boundaries of your city and also doesn’t cost you any expensive gear. Apart from making new friends, you get to hone your mental skills and maintain your physical health. What’s not to like?
A Deeper Understanding of Introverts and Social Hobbies
Before you read further, watch the following video about the nature of introverts by Jay Shetty:
What do introverts like doing?
Introverts like solitary activities. They’re commonly interested in things they can enjoy alone or with a small group of people. Since their observant, quiet nature gives space for deep thinking, introverts prefer activities like reading and solving puzzles. They also aren’t that verbal and therefore enjoy expressing themselves in writing, art, and music.
Introverts can be socially connected by maintaining interaction in their daily lives while finding time to recharge in solitude. They can also grow their social skills through social hobbies for introverts mentioned above.
What do introverts do in their free time?
Most introverts spend their free time expressing themselves in hobbies they can carry out alone. This can be dancing, painting, cooking, coding, playing video games, or any other solitary hobby.
What sports are good for introverts?
Introverts are attracted to sports they can perform alone or with a few others. The main ones include running, cycling, swimming, surfing, skiing, and fishing among others.
Related: 10 Ways to Hide Depression Effectively And Heal
Closing Thoughts
As an introvert, you desire a quiet but social life which the above social hobbies for introverts can provide. So grab some hobbies and create an amazing social life of introversion.
Have you been struggling to socialize as an introvert? Which hobby do you choose? Let’s talk in the comments!
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