4. Find Structured Social Activities

If you’re an introvert , you may find it difficult to strike up conversations with random people in a coffee shop, bar, or line at the grocery store. This is because these situations are too open-ended, too lacking in structure. They put all the emphasis on talking, which can be awkward and draining when you’re first meeting people.

To ease the pressure, I recommend finding social activities with structure. Here are a few ideas:

• Boardgame nights (many local breweries, coffee shops, and community centers host these)
• Sports league
• Community band/orchestra
• Meetup groups (though be sure to pick one that’s introvert-friendly)
• In-person classes (cooking, photography, painting, etc.)
• etc

The goal is to find an activity that gives you the opportunity to talk but also something else to focus on when the conversation lulls.