Make Friends As An Introvert: Simple Steps For Real Connection

But maintaining adult friendships may require a bit more effort and intentionality than when we were younger. Adult friendships are a crucial part of a happy and healthy life. There are several benefits to maintaining friendships in adulthood, as well as making new friends, too.

Especially if you went to school with lots of people your age. Especially if you moved away from where you grew up, or work from home. Keep in mind that trying something new doesn’t mean changing who you are as a person. Is there some activity you’ve always been interested in checking out? Perhaps a pottery class, a cooking workshop, or a local community event?

But the truth is, many people are drawn to calm, thoughtful personalities. You might not be the life of the party, but you could be someone others turn to for deeper conversations or advice. Owning your personality and showing up as your authentic self is far more attractive than trying to fit a mold. Friendships built on real connection will always outlast those based on forced impressions or overexertion. Joining groups or clubs based on common interests can be a great way for introverts to meet new people and make friends. Attending networking events or parties can be overwhelming, but focusing on small talk and finding one or two people to connect with can make the experience more manageable.

Not all introverts are the same.Understanding which type of introvert you are can help you tailor your social strategies. My wife (also an introvert) and I share a handful of friends you can count on one hand, and that’s exactly how we like it. As an introvert, you’re naturally better at deeper discussions than small talk.

After all, the companionship and support that friends provide can significantly impact our mental and emotional wellbeing. Meanwhile, Hinge is killing it with features that make conversations more intentional. Even with a limited number of free daily “likes,” I definitely think it offers a better experience than Bumble. Hinge currently offers a better overall experience for most users.

And when you let go of relationships that aren’t right for you, you make room for ones that are.

• Whether you’re starting fresh or strengthening old ties, these tips will help you build meaningful, lasting relationships.
• We are all unique individuals with different personalities and interests.
• Maybe you haven’t felt any loneliness yourself, but well-meaning family members keep suggesting you need a new friend or two.
• If you consider yourself an introvert, you probably feel pretty comfortable with your own company.

According to SSRS, 45 percent of users aged have tried the app. In my experience, the vibe hits a sweet spot somewhere between the casualness of Tinder and the relationship-focus of Hinge. I’ve picked Hinge as my top choice because it truly lives up to its “Designed to be deleted” promise. While other apps are focused on keeping you swiping, Hinge is built to spark better conversations from the start. The core of the experience lies in its profiles, which you build using prompts — built-in conversation starters covering everything from “My simple pleasures” to your deepest passions. It’s an approach that clearly works, as 75 percent of Hinge’s Gen Z daters say they check someone’s “Dating Intention” before deciding to like them.

It’s a platform that expects you to put in some effort, and it rewards you with solid features and a recent push for safety, like requiring three photos to crack down on fakes. It’s an app for people who are willing to invest in finding a life partner, and for that, it’s one of my top picks. When you act true to yourself right off the bat, it’s easier to identify who should and shouldn’t be your friend.

It would be impossible for everyone to like and want to be friends with everyone else. (As already mentioned, you’re probably pretty selective yourself!) Keep this in mind and try not to let initial rejection or lack of connection discourage you from trying to make friends as an introvert. A true friend will understand and respect your need for self-care as a way to protect your well being. It’s perfectly okay to start small and gradually expand (but only if you want to!) your friendships over time. Take time to go deep and slowly learn about your newfound friends, their interests, hobbies, likes, and dislikes.

Earlier this year, Match Chief Executive Officer Spencer Rascoff confirmed that HER (my No. 1 pick for queer women) is now a part of the Match family. HER is known for giving its members features that are usually paywalled on other apps, like Match. So we’re curious how this acquisition will affect its user base and experience. If you’re at a point in your life where you’re so over the games and just want to find a real, serious partner, Match is where I’d send you.

Enter your “growth zone” by following these steps on leaving your comfort zone. After all, introverts tend to embody these 17 qualities that make a great friend. The work environment is made to suit extroverts (#OpenPlanOffices), and that’s why extroverted personality types are usually promoted and make it in management positions. Instead of worrying about saying the wrong thing or missing out on a connection, give yourself some grace. Recognize that we’re not meant to appeal to everyone and everyone is not necessarily meant to appeal to us.

How Introverts Can Make Real Friends Online

By becoming better acquainted, though, you might find some room for common ground. The important thing to realize is that everyone has different strengths. Challenge yourself to try one thing — it’s OK to start small — that has always interested you. Maybe it’s a https://press.farm/instantalks-review/ stargazing evening, a dance class, a birdwatching tour, or a guided tour of a historical site.

Be There In Times Of Need And In Times Of Joy

Try setting up a regular time to hang out with someone you’re getting to know. Maybe it’s brunch every Saturday morning, or a weekly coffee walk in the park after work on Tuesdays. Many introverts (myself included!) wait for others to come to them.

Introversion isn’t a flaw, and a lack of friends isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Therapists can help address these concerns while also helping you uncover any patterns getting in your way of making new friends. People seek therapy for many different reasons, and you can get professional help for any challenge, not just mental health symptoms. Everyone, especially those who wanted to be more extroverted, showed improvements in well-being during the extroverted week. Perhaps you and your neighbor share the same gardening and television interests or you and your co-worker have pretty similar personalities. You might instinctively avoid these interactions for fear of being put on the spot for small talk.

As you spend more and more time there, you’ll start to notice what I like to call “recurring characters.” As you see the same people pop up again and again, don’t hesitate to introduce yourself. Improving social skills is an important skill to develop for anyone trying to facilitate professional and personal connections. Based on his experiences moving from a small town to a big city and eventually starting improv comedy, he developed a workshop to help integrate principles of improvisation into social skills training. This worksheet Starting a Conversation – The ARE Method guides participants through each step in the ARE process. It also provides examples of how the ARE method can be incorporated into a typical conversation and used as a workable strategy in social skills training activities. Checklist is a self-assessment opportunity for clients to determine if social skills therapy is appropriate for their specific situation or if another approach will be more beneficial.

I don’t go to social outings, parties, or clubs; I usually keep myself to myself. The idea of socializing with lots of people leaves me feeling drained and extremely anxious. The truth is, I love spending time at home because it’s my safe space.

Be Vulnerable (when You’re Ready)

It has an estimated 50 million users per month across 190 countries, giving it the largest user pool of any single platform. (It was also the most downloaded app in 2024.) The 2025 SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus found that 46 percent of all online daters have used Tinder. Of course, as I always say, “most popular” doesn’t always mean “best.” Its user base is growing, and its features encourage better conversations. Tinder is still my top pick for casual hookups and college students, while OkCupid, Bumble, and eharmony are smart picks if you’re looking for something serious. I recommend Coffee Meets Bagel for people who are completely over the endless swiping on other apps and want a more curated, less overwhelming experience.

It’s easier to make friends when you have something in common with the person (or already know you have). So you’ve got to get out of your comfort zone and make the first move too. Use your perception strength (aka your powers of observation) to see who’s likely to be a good match, and then reach out. Sure, an introvert may come across as being shy because they are more reflective, they check out a situation before taking action, and they are usually quieter. But that doesn’t mean all introverts are shy or are always shy. But there are also ample opportunities to succeed and thrive when we embrace our unique strengths and find fulfillment on our own terms.

A great way to approach meeting new friends as an adult is to focus on the places you’re spending your time, and to find environments where potential friendships can flourish. Vague social situations can sometimes seem daunting to introverts. If you have an idea for an activity that you think a certain friend or friends would be interested in, invite them to it — for example, a concert, museum exhibit, or cultural event. It can be easier to arrange meeting up for certain events than following up on a, “We should hang out sometime! I recommend Bumble for women and non-binary people who are tired of unwanted DMs and want to take control of their dating experience. By giving you the power to start every conversation, Bumble helps create more respectful connections from the start, especially among younger daters.