You’ve been in this new town for about a month now and you are looking for hang-out spots to check out. You want to get out of the house and meet new people to make friends.
The only problem is that you don’t know anyone there to show you around. You are stumped, thinking about how you, an introvert, can make friends in this new town on your own.
You’re not the type to go out of your way to meet people, and it can sometimes be a bit awkward or even intimidating. You made all of your other friends either through school or work, so these are different grounds for you.
You just started your new job, and you know that it will take a while to get to know your coworkers. It doesn’t help that you won’t be the one first to ask them about their personal lives because you’re too shy.
What is an Introvert?
According to WebMD, an introvert is someone who would rather be in the company of a few people vs. a group of people. They enjoy spending time alone often and in fact, sometimes need it to recharge themselves.
Introverts would instead prefer to write than talk, as they are more comfortable writing their thoughts down. They also like to be in quieter environments like libraries or small coffee shops.
They get enjoyment out of peaceful activities, such as reading, writing, or meditation. They don’t mind hanging out, but alone time is a necessity.
Most times introverts deal with their issues on their own instead of confiding in someone else. They can be private and have only a few friends.
Therefore, it can be a little tough trying to make friends as an introvert in a new town.
These are the best tips to make friends in a new town as an introvert:
- Take up a hobby.
– Try a book club in the new town; you have been wanting to join one but just didn’t have the time to before. You won’t have to worry about having to find something to talk about in a book club because the discussion will revolve around what you guys are reading.
You share and listen to others’ perspectives, which helps you to connect with others. You become familiar with the members of the club and this can possibly lead to making a new friend.
– Join a fitness class that meets up once or twice a week. Working out in groups is always fun and keeps you motivated while motivating others.
Fitness classes are great for getting to know new people, as you all are in there with similar goals.
You can start a conversation off with someone by asking how long they have been in the class or what they like about the class the most. You can even make plans to meet up and become workout partners, which can lead to a new friend.
– A dance class is another great hobby that you can take up. If you enjoy music and moving your body, this can be an awesome way to meet others.
Pick a genre that you enjoy so that you will stay interested, keeping you going back.
The more times you go, the more comfortable you will become while communicating with those familiar faces. You will be able to dance with them and enjoy yourselves together.
Naturally, you’ll get to know a little bit about them, and can make plans to hang out outside of dance class.
Doing something that you are interested in makes it easier to connect with others. You’ll have something to talk about without having to think about it, which is a plus.
- Join a group online.
Don’t underestimate social media communities. There are tons of groups that you can join to meet up with others of similar interests.
You can check out the groups before joining to see what kind of members they are looking for and the purpose of the group.
There are mommy groups, hiking groups, fitness groups, you name it! Put yourself out there, join a group and start connecting with others for the next meetup.
These groups plan cool outings for members to meet up and get to know each other.
What’s cool about these online communities is that you can get to know people before meeting up with them. You can determine beforehand if you guys have anything in common and if it will be cool to meet with them in person.
- Volunteering is great too!
You can be a part of something bigger than yourself while connecting with the people in your community. You are all there doing good, which is a mutual interest for you and the others there.
Volunteering can expose you to so many different people in your area. It also helps to expand your network for more great volunteering opportunities as well.
Lending a helping hand to your community while meeting new people are two great things in one!
- Reach out to your friends back home.
Reach out to see if they know anyone who lives in the area. It is much easier to meet a friend of a friend than it is to meet a complete stranger.
This can be family members, old roommates, classmates, or even coworkers. They can show you around town, giving you the scoop on the best restaurants and hang-out spots.
Who knows, you might even hit it off and become good friends.
You guys can meet up to get to know one another, starting the conversation off with how you both met your mutual friend. - Get to know your coworkers.
It will be pretty easy to break the ice with coworkers because you spend quite a bit of time together throughout the day. Spark up a conversation during a coffee break about their hobbies when they aren’t working.
You can invite them out to lunch one day to get to know each other more. Perhaps you have something in common and can do an activity together sometime.
It is also cool to go to work social events. These allow you to network and talk to others while seeing a side of them that you don’t see at work.
You can let your hair down as well, allowing your coworkers to connect with you on a deeper level. - Check out local events like the farmer’s market.
The farmer’s market is a place where you can go for fresh local produce and products. If you are someone that loves fresh fruits and vegetables, this is the place for you.
There will be lots of different people that live in the area, making this a great place to meet people in your new city. Another plus is that these local farmers help to spread awareness of the benefits of eating organic good that hasn’t been genetically modified, and you get to be a part of it!
Moving to a new town as an introvert might make you nervous about making new friends. You have to get out of your comfort zone a tad bit to get to know the people around you.
Don’t be afraid to ask your coworker about catching a movie with you or speaking up in the book club so that others can get to know you. Spending this time with others can lead to making the new friends that you wanted.
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