Getting out into nature is an easy way for introverts to get out more, but still remain alone.
As introverts, we are comfortable with routines and rituals, comfortable being alone and lonely. Sometimes we don’t even notice that we succeeded too it’s comfortable until the need for companionship and connection sneaks up on us, seemingly out of nowhere.
Social connections and connection with the world are good for our mental health. So how can we comfortably cultivate them while respecting our introverted tendencies? The first step is out of the house.
Here are some actionable items that I have personally found useful. All these activities, without existing, penetrate inertia too take a deep dive into the icy pool. The key is, although it may be a bit all outside of our comfort zone are doable and not too unrealistic.
7 ways to get along better as an introvert
1. Talk to a new person, such as someone in line at the grocery store.
Many of us introverts usually find it difficult to make small talk, or simply don’t enjoy it that much.
We thrive on deep interaction and meaningful conversation. And yet there is room for small talk. Soul-nourishing conversations about why we’re here can fulfill us, but I’ve also found that simpler, seemingly insignificant exchanges can be just as powerful. I learned that simple is not synonymous with superficial. Until then study appeared in Journal of Experimental Psychology he realized that connecting with others increases happiness.
Also, many of these conversations, even if they start as small talk, can deepen in less time than you think. As a former Lyft driver, I’ve talked to all kinds of people. My Toyota Corolla often felt like “therapy “On Wheels” for one-time customers.I parted ways with some passengers who knew more about them than I did with some of the people I see regularly in my day job these days.
Suffice to say, one-on-one interaction is a good way for introverts to satisfy their social needs without feeling overstimulated. In case you’re not a Lyft driver, I’ve found other ways to satisfy this need by striking up a casual conversation with a person who’s waiting in line for some reason (“Have you ever tried the bear claw noodles?”). A woman in the same aisle at CVS the other day started talking to me about the card selection, so that was good for me too. Other times, you may witness an adorable or fascinating sight and it can automatically bring you and another person together. When I was hiking for example, a quail poked its head out of a bush the other day, stopping both me and a male hiker in our tracks (and making for easy conversation).
2. Go to a coffee shop (or other public social space) to be close to the social energy.
Towards the beginning of the epidemic, I thoroughly enjoyed my solitude. It was a relief not to feel like a social obligation. But as time went on, I began to experience an itch familiar to every extrovert who has ever walked this planet. I remember a scene from the lobby of a pharmacy 11 months into the pandemic, when the world slowly began to reopen after almost a year of isolation.
The bespectacled middle-aged man to my left listened to Persian music on his phone while an emotional support beagle napped at his owner’s feet a chair away. Six feet apart, everyone (except the beagle) wore masks. Some of the masks were stylish: black with gold, rainbow (I see you, LGBTQ ally!), and strawberry shining in the sunlight.
All these signs of life filled me with energy. They created the closest experience to a coffee shop—where everyone channeled their energy into their own endeavors, sitting separately but surrounded by lots of company—that I’d experienced in months. And I realized I missed it. Starbucks founder Howard Schultz envisioned the coffee shop as a “third space” somewhere between work and home, where one could relax without the worries associated with either. Introverts can get a comfortable dose of social energy in such circumstances, without the burden of social obligations.
3. Participate in tactile experiences.
Growing up, I loved trips to the local arcade. It was no problem to make lessons at home SimsVideo game characters falling in love or planning what I hoped would be the longest rollercoaster ride of all time. Roller Coaster Tycoon. Yet there was something about the multi-sensory experience of arcade attractions that games just couldn’t replicate on a computer screen. As a kid, summer camp was a great way to get hands-on experiences, and I want more kids to have access to it.
Many introverts tend to daydream and disappears in our imagination. This can be a wonderful experience, but balance is key. To overcome being locked in our heads, we can turn to the tangible direction: We climb rocks when we go hiking. Do yoga barefoot on the beach to feel the texture of the sand on your skin. Consider archery, hammer throwing or crocheting – there are plenty of options.
Do you ever struggle to know what to say?
Someone asks, “Why are you so quiet?” A co-worker corners me when you are exhausted. A friend strives to plan you don’t have the energy for it.
Later he thinks I wish I had said something.
I’ve been there too. That’s why I created it Confident introverted scripts.
That’s over 150 ready-to-use phrases time spent alone, protection of boundaries, energies, social life, etc. The guide is provided by feedback from therapists and introverted colleagues to make sure it really helps when your mind goes blank.
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Click here to purchase the guide.
4. Get to know nature more closely.
Nature is a gentle arena through which introverts can leave their cocoon while not feeling overstimulated. We can find a way to make the planet our own personal training ground (in a way that respects him and leaves things as we found them). For example, I did sit-ups against smooth stones in the quiet desert landscape of Palm Springs. I ran barefoot on the beaches, the breeze cooling my skin and the undisturbed sand untouched beneath my feet. The fresh green grass of the many parks enticed me to do yoga poses, stretch and train my abs.
Outdoor training makes it easier a more meditative, “reconnect with yourself” experience. Fallen trees make great benches to sit on. The sand provides optimal resistance for glute toning (plus running barefoot on the beach for a gym workout is like a cozy print book for your Kindle). Rivers await swimmers, and rocks await climbers. I love the full-body effort you get with both activities—the way every muscle suddenly comes to life, from your abs to your legs to the tiny muscles in your arms you didn’t know you had.
5. Reconnect with your inner child.
In his book Under the edge of darknessEdith Widder, Ph.D., wrote: “The happiest people I know are those who have managed to hold on to that childlike sense of wonder at discovering new things. But holding on is not always easy. Too often the world is presented with a collection of facts to be learned rather than great mysteries to be solved.”
My blog LyftTales features illustrations that look like they were drawn by a child. However, I did not recruit seven-year-olds; done by yours truly. I draw them because they are cathartic and help me not take myself too seriously. They also connect me back to my gamer side which does not always have the opportunity to emerge during more routine daily work. They replace my rigid, linear thinking, make me more receptive to creative ideas and alternative views.
Game. He sings. Color. Do things you’re bad at, but they make you happy. Or spend time with real kids to reconnect with your inner child. I did this with my little cousin on a sunny day last year. In my aunt’s backyard, we “smelled flowers,” which sounded like wine tasting, but to our noses (and more innocent and clean).
Stuart Brown as psychiatrist wrote: “Lack of play should be treated as malnutrition. It poses a health risk to your body and mind.”
6. Take a trip alone.
I love one thing individual travel so the absence of other people allows you to pay more attention to the small details. Details like how a cocktail consisted of ingredients like smashed avocado, pineapple juice and mezcal; how the wooden furniture in front of the cafe in South Lake Tahoe blended seamlessly with the surrounding trees, while a stone’s throw away, the vast lake glistened – impossibly, paradise blue – under the sun; the red poncho of a pit bull puppy watching his owner perform at an open mic night in Asheville, North Carolina; and I could go on and on…
Tin road tripsmoving and changing locations can satisfy the need for people with introverted tendencies. It provides us with stimulation while we are not overincentive, as we also get the comfort and insulation of our car.
7. Read something you never thought you would.
It also includes ‘getting more out’ to get out of our heads, where we introverts often live. Before COVID-19, I gathered a tall stack of reading material at Barnes & Noble and carried it to a comfy chair by the fireplace at Starbucks. After ordering my coffee, I slurped my way through them, trying to absorb as much as possible. Magazines on topics ranging from bird watching to mountaineering to geology were things I wouldn’t normally do. buying. But my brain was delighted with the unexpected knowledge when consuming them.
Imagine if we shifted past confirmation bias to other areas of our daily world. What if we were dealing with people we didn’t immediately like, who might turn out to have hidden treasures within them? What if we dig deeper into an argument or belief when our knee-jerk reaction is to reject it?
However, for the purpose of this particular tip: Reading gives us this revelation in a safe and private way for introverts. Mentally, we step out of our comfort zone while remaining physically cocooned. All of this helps to integrate the new beliefs into our current repertoire. 
Introverts, what would you add to the list? I’d love to hear it in the comments below!
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