10 Fun and Kind of Social Hobbies for Introverts

Are you an introvert struggling to find meaningful hobbies? I totally get it. As an introvert, I enjoy both solo hobbies and social ones, so long as the social ones are short and easy to get out of! Choosing social hobbies for introverts can be tricky, and should be done with some forethought.

I’ll joke that I want to find a hobby that won’t force me to interact with other people for very long, but in all honesty, even though I am an introvert, I still require interaction with other people. I think that it’s a myth that introverts would prefer to always be alone. In reality, we enjoy other people as much as any extrovert. Introverts just need to be careful with how much of their energy they are giving to others.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you buy from my link I might make a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay. See the full affiliate disclosure here.

What is an Introvert?

Introverts are people who prefer to spend their time alone or with a small group of people. They like to listen more than talk, and they tend to be more sensitive than extroverts. Introverts recharge their batteries by spending time alone, without other people. Common hobbies for introverts during those periods include reading, or listening to music. But what about the other times?

Extroverts are people who like having large groups of friends and enjoy meeting new people. They like talking and they’re usually the center of attention. Extroverts recharge their batteries by spending time with large groups of people or anything that stimulates them (e.g., playing sports).

As with many human attributes, introversion and extroversion are on a spectrum. You may know very strongly that you are an introvert, or you may feel like sometimes you’re an introvert and other times you’re more extroverted. This is normal. We all have some of both.

Hobbies for Introverts

When it comes to pastimes, hobbies, and even careers, I think that introverts need to think carefully about how their chosen activities will affect their overall well-being in the future. Social hobbies for introverts are all about getting you into activities that make your inner introvert happy and also benefit you socially in the long run.

These social hobbies for introverts are carefully selected to be low stress because the expectation for socializing is fairly low.

Activities for Introverts Who Want to Make Friends

If you are an introvert and feel like large groups of people are too much, consider a hobby that allows you to partner up with just one person at a time or a small group. Hobbies like this are perfect for introverts who would like to meet new people or simply want to practice feeling more comfortable in social situations.

Dancing – Learn to ballroom dance, or take a small group dance class. Either way, you’ll be focusing on your own body and what it’s doing. The others in the room are there to support you, and may even become your friends.

Yoga or Fitness – Similarly to dance, these active hobbies allow you to focus on your own body while surrounded by others doing the same.

Book clubs – as an introvert you may already be a bookworm. Wouldn’t it be nice to talk about how you liked that book with others who read it too? Book club meetings can range from really laid back to very intellectual. You may need to check out a few before you find one that clicks.

Chess or Board Games – Typically only two to four people are playing a board game at any given time. Join a local chess playing club or look for groups that play scrabble or card games.

Knitting, Crochet, or other Crafts – While you can definitely choose a craft like this and partake of it all alone, there are lots of great in-person and online craft clubs (sometimes called guilds) that you can join to meet others who love the same crafts. I used to meet up with a couple of ladies at a coffee shop. We would chat and crochet or knit together. It was really lovely, and I think I should look for a new group like that soon!

If you are a crafter, and interested in using your skills to make money, visit my other site, Bingecrafter.com for tips!

three women in a cafe drinking coffee and knitting together

There are certainly other hobbies for introverts that offer the same low level of social interaction. When choosing a hobby as an introvert, try to think ahead a bit. You want to find a hobby that allows you to be independent, while also causing a small to medium level of social interaction. As a bonus, these hobbies will help you to build your support network, and introduce you to new friends.

Some introverts really enjoy a big, loud party, so long as that only happens every couple of months or so. There are some excellent hobbies that lend themselves well to this specific introvert need.

Join a Non-Profit Board – Choose a cause that you are passionate about, and get involved! The fun thing about non-profits is that they are always planning an event. It takes months to plan, and then one good day of crazy partying. It’s a great way to enjoy a social high that is short-lived.

Acting – If you enjoyed drama club in high school, look into joining a local acting troupe. You’ll spend a few months meeting regularly for rehearsals (a social activity, but with people you know and like), and then have a big few days where you’ll perform.

So maybe you are looking for a new hobby with just a small amount of social interaction. You don’t want a new hobby that is completely solo – you already have enough of those – and you’d prefer to very slightly open up your social circles.

woman typing on a laptop at a black desk

Writing – Writing is a very solitary activity most of the time. It’s just you and your computer… until it isn’t. What I mean is that writing can open up the door for new relationships. If you publish your writing in any form, whether it’s on a blog, in a book, or in an online forum, you then open yourself up for feedback. You’ll be replying to comments, responding to messages, and considering questions from readers. The best part? If it gets to be too much, you can just turn off your notifications until you’re recharged and ready to go for more.

Video Games – Video games offer us a way to socialize from the comfort of our sofas. If you play online games, you can choose when to converse with your playmates, which is a nice choice to have if you’re an introvert. Some days you may be more open to chatting than others.

Solo Travel – The type of social interaction that you’ll encounter when traveling solo is different than what you’ll experience in your normal day-to-day life. You’ll be interacting with complete strangers, which can be really freeing, particularly for someone who may stress about what their friends think about them. When traveling, you can pretend to be anyone you want to be, and enjoy light conversations with people you meet. If you want to be bold, look into singles cruises or vacations specifically for people who want to meet new people.

You might be wondering where you should look for these types of clubs, groups, and classes. Luckily for you, you have the whole internet at your fingertips! Start with your own social circle, and see if anyone else is already involved in something that interests you. Then, go to Meetup.com, Eventbright, or even Facebook Events and see what you can find.

Images of women socializing with text overlay relating to hobbies for introverts

What do you think? Do you have a hobby for introverts that I didn’t mention? Leave a comment and tell me about it!

There isn’t going to be one perfect hobby for you. There will be many things that check all the right boxes:

Am I interested in it?
Is it fun to do?
Can I control the level of social interaction in some way
Will it help me grow?

Likely, if you can say yes to the above, it’s a good hobby for you to try. Hobbies for introverts don’t need to be complicated, they just need to make sense for the particular introvert. In this case, be sure that the hobby you choose makes sense for you.